IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) & • ■ A /. fA II 1.1 11.25 1^ tea 12.8 ■3.6 nw^^^ US u Ij^ 1^ Ittou U 11.6 HiotDgraphic _,Sciaices Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRIET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) S72-4S03 '^^^^ •"^^ !> ^5^. 4" ^ \^> v ^ £> I/.. '4s '^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notes tachniques at bibiiographiquas Tha Instituta has attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy available for fi'ming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibiiographicaliy unique, whici^ may altar any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checlced below. n D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^a Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauria et/ou peilicul6e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or blacic)/ Encra da couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Ralii avac d'autres documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re l:ure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages Manches ajout6es lors d'une restauration apparaissant dans la texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmtes. Additional comments:/ Commentairas suppldmantaires: The tot L'Institut a microfilm^ la meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a At6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thoda normala de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D D D D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^as Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^as et/ou pelllcul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachet6es ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es The pos oft film Ori( beg the sior oth( first sion or II rri Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti in6gale de I'impression Includes supplementary materia Comprend du materiel suppl^mantaire I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ The shal TINI whU Map diffa entir begii right requ met^ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partieilement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 fiimtes A nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiqu4 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X lire details Lies du : modifier ger une I f iimage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Pubiic Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quaiity possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grice k la gAnArositA de: La bibliothAque des Archives publiques du Canada Les images suivantes ont 6t4 reproduites avec ie plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film*, et en conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. / j6es Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est ImprimAe sont filmfo en commen^ant par Ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par Ie second plat, salon ie cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, seion ie cas: Ie symbols -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", ie symbols V signifie "FIN". ire Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planuhes, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque Ie documetit n'^tt trop grand pour Atre reproduit en uh seul ciichA, 11 est film6 A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la mAthode. }y errata ed to mt ine pelure, apon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 fe- •,*K* /■\ i-^ f ' > vir*-- % "I v^ .J .. » ^ ^,.-i-' / ^" >■-. s^'S. 1 ;. A NEW COLLECTION O F V ^ / .1 VOYAGES,' DISCOVERIES and TRAVELS: CONTAINING '^ =- ' y5 Whatever is worthy of Notict, in EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA and AMERICA: ' INRESPECTTO The Situation and Extent of Empires, Kingdoms, and Provinces ; their Climates, Soil, Produce, &c. WITH /'■■ ',„ ■ - r , ' The Manners and Cuftoms of the feveral Inhabitants; their Government, Religion, Arts, Sciences, Manufadures, and Commerce. , The whole confifting of fuch English and Foreign Authors as are in moft Efleem ; including the Defcriptions and Remarks of fome late celebrated Travellers, i ■' : to be found in any other CoUedlion. Illui^rated with a Variety of accurate MAPS, PLANS, and elegant ENGRAVINGS. IN SEVEN VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON:* Printed for J. KNOX, near Southampton-Street^ in the Strand. MDCCLXVIL ^ PREFACE. FEW books are more pleafing or indrudtlve than thafe which contain accounts of travels or voyages, into diftant countries. But at the fame time, no writers feem more incapable of defcrib- ing what they fee, or more liable to be impofed upon by others, than many of ihore to whom we owe produdtions of this nature. The lot of vifit- ing foreign climates, or traverfing favage lands, has generally fallen to the avaritiorus or the de- vout, men whofe views were contra6ted by gain, or blinded by fuperftition ; thus, though in ge- neral they tell us what thev have obferved, their accounts are mixed with inflances of grofs igno- rance, ormiftaken zeal. We generally find their produdions loaded with minute and uninterefting tranfadions, falfe miracles, nautical remarks, or tedious diaries, \yhich fatigue the reader and re- prefs curiofity. The being acquainted with the world from books of this kind, thus becoming a tafk almoft as difficult as vifiting in perfon the places they defcribe j and the numbers of fuch books ftill in- creafing the difficulty, it was by many thought advifeable to reduce the number, and retrench the abfurdities of fuch works by compilation. To this we owe the many CoUeSliom of voyages and travels that have been publifhed at different times among us, all profeffing tp afford the reader A 2 '-'■'' ^' the ;i-y h PREPACK. the grcnteft plcat'urc in the fmalleft compafs, the greatcit benefits at the fmallelt cxpcntc. The three molt cc^nfuierable colLdions of this kind arc Purchnfc's Pil-rims, Chm chill's, and Harris's Colledion of Voyages and Travels. As to Furchiifcy it was colhdttd at a time when the natural hillory of na;ions was yet but in its in- fancy, and coniequintly his books are filled with all the folly and credulity of tho(c who were de- ceived themfelves, or with the grofs falfchood of fuch as ftiove to acquire reputation by deceiv- ing others. Churchill, exclufive of the fize and price (it confifting of no lefs than eight folio volumes) has but little advantage of the former; he has given place to much lumber, for it feemed a maxim with him to rejcdl nothing. The former obrcrvations are in a great meafure applicable to the colkdion by Dr. Harris. Many of the articles given in his work are very old, delivered in very bad language, and in many in- Hances of doubtful authenticity. Hence this, as well as the two former, is now purchafed rather from motives of curioiity than pleafure, rather by the antiquary than the modern reader* The fucctfs of thefe works (for with all their faults they were found to be ufeful, and confe- quently v/ere well received by the public) haS produced many fmaller abridgments, which have appeared at different times and in various iizes. It is fcarce neceflary to remark on thefe, that they are but little known, and after their firft publication little called for. The views of the publifhers being merely lucrative, they have been compiled with io little judgment, and printed with m m mm i PREFACE. V with fo little care, that they may jnftiy h**. con- fidcred and ranked among tlic number of thofc works vvliich arc merely ealculatcd to pleafe the vulgar. Some of thele eompilitions therefore, though promifmg in the title the contents of a folio, are too fmall to afford much entertainment to the difapj^ointcd purcliafcr. To mix profit with delight fhould be the aim of all writers, and the bud cfsof eve'-y book : and nothinj; can contribute more t:) t'.efe valuable ends than a judicious work of this nature, in which we can travel to the moll diftant corners of the world, without flirring from our clolcts, rhoofc the moft enrertain:n;jj route, embark with the mofl: agreeable companions, view remote cities and their governments, extend our acquaintance through all the nations of the globe, and interefl: ourfelves in a fucccilion of incidents and adven- tures, that at once improve the mind and delight the imagination. Thefe purpofc?, we apprehend, have not been fully anlwered in the voluminous collcdions which have hitherto appeared in our language : the fize and price of a folio are fuMicient to inti- midate an ordinary reader from purchadng the work, or perufing its contents. And what we ^ obferved in regard to travels is equally ap- plicable to the numerous accounts of voyages that have obtained a place in even the befl compilations. They are generally fo (luffed with dry defcriptions of beaings and diflances, tides and currents, variations of the compafs, leeward, wind and weather, foundi e, anchor- ing, and other terms of navigation, that none ' but mere pilots, or feafaring people, can read A3 them VI PREFACE. them without difo;uft. In a word, they are filled with fuch remarks as moy be very ufeful in a fea-journal, to juftify the condud of the mariners Co their owners, but which in a general view furnifh few articles of ufeful information or en- tertainment* From thefvj conflderations, and from a mature convidtion that a compilation of this kind might be rendered more authentic and ufeful than any hitherto publiflied, we have been induced to of- fer a New CoUedlion of Voyages and Travels ta the public, to whofe candor the principles on which the prefent underta^liing has been framed, are here fubmitted. Our wifhes were to prefent the reader with an account of the feveral coun- tries of the world, and their inhabitants -, the natural hidcry of each kingdom, and of the ri- vers or feas which divide kingdoms from each other. In fhort, to give fuch a defcription of the Globe which we inhabit as at once might be concife, yet comprehenfive, as might catch the fancy while it improved the underftanding ; and we may venture to fay, that he who has made a proper ufe of this work will fcarce want any other afiiftance to complete his flcill in geography, as far at leafl as it is unconneded with aPwronomy or mathematical calculations. In order to this, great care was to be taken in the fekding of proper guides. And even in fome of the befl:, the caution was to be ufed of not iriplicitly following them into error or ab- furdities. , In the arrangement of the materials, we have brought together the different accounts of each country into one view, though they may have ■ been PREFACE. vlJ ^ are filled feful in a mariners leral view ?n or cn- a mature id might than any ;d to of- ravels to 'iples on framed, > prefent »I coun- \tS', the the ri- >m each 1 of the ight be tch the ?; and made a nt any ;raphy, :)nomy ken in en in fed of )r ab- ■ have each have been .1 f been made at very diftant periods 3 and vi^hen there was an opporttinity of choice among writers on the fame nation, the lateft vifitors have ge- nerally been preferred, as likely to give the lead fallacious information. This collection admitted of a natural divifion into two capital parts, namely, thofe who vifited the coafls only, and of thofe who travelled through the interior countries. In the Voyages^ which form the firft part of this work, the reader will find a true pidure of naval viciflitudes and dangers. The courfes purfued by vefTels from one country to another, their fliipwrecks and efcapes. Here will be found defcriptions of the feveral coafts, bays, rivers and harbours, with fuch accounts of the inhabitants as a curforv ac- quaintance could fupply. The latter part of this work confifts of Travels only, and exhibits the interior parts. The ac- counts of thefe contain a more minute detail of the natural hiftory of each country, its monu- ments of antiquity, its government, religion, com- merce, manners, and fpirit of thinking. The whole given not with the dry and difgufting pro- lixity of a geographer, but for the mod part in the language of the travellers themfelves 5 a lan- guage in fome inftances rude indeed, but ener- getic, expreffive of the feelings of men acquaint- ed with fatigue and with danger. Nor will it be one of the fmalleft advantages of this work, that we have fcarce any where omitted the ha- zard, the calamities, the hair-breadth efcapes, which thefe bold men have endured and fur- mounted. Thefe accounts intereft us as we read ; wc travel en with the pilgrim ) fear for his A 4 diflrclTes, M vm PREFACE. diHrefTes, and exult in his deliverance and fatif- fadion. From this method it is hoped that we have united the two great aims of every writer, in- flru'A w their wealth and their difcoveries. Of thefe we have feleded Drake, Dampier, Woodes Rogers, and efpecially Anfon j fince the voyage of the latter, whether we confider the authenticity of his m.^tter, or the elegant manner in which it is related, may be confidered as the mod valuable publication of the kind. With the circumnavigators, we clofe the firft divifion ofthis colle<5tion, which confifts of voy- ages : in the fourth, fifth, and fixth volumes, we have given the relations of the mod approved travellers through Europe, Africa and Afia; be- ginning at the north of Europe, and advancing fouthward and eaftward, as far as their journies could be extended by land. Where thefe have been tedious, too minute or difguftingly dry, we have taken the liberty to retrench them. On the contrary, where any have been fupcrficial or negligent, we have taken the liberty of improving their accounts by inferting palTages from others. Thus, Keyller, for in fiance, who is reckoned one of the moft faithful defcribers of Europe, is at the fame time fo prolix, that we have in many places curtailed his too minute defcriptions of un- interefting objeds, which has afforded an oppor- tunity of engrafting in proper place?, fiom later writers, fome of the moft judicious remarks on the living manners and peculiarities of the inha- bitants of various countries, that have appeared in any language. Wherever we hive availed ourfclves of the obfervations of thefe writers, the obligation is in every inftance acknowleged. After traverling fo many foreign countries, it would be an unpardonable omiflion to have gverlooked our own, and Irke fome minifters, too xu PREFACE. too much employed in foreign conquefts, leave our native dominions unregarded. In other countries we had, perhaps, fcenes of natural beauty, luxuriant foils, and happy climates to defcribe ; but in Britain we chiefly confined our- felves to what makes the happinefs of the people flill fuperior to that derived from fuch advan- tages, namely, the government of the country, its conftitution and excellent laws. It is thefe which make Great Britain the delight, the envy and the miftrefs of the world ; and in this part of our undertaking, it would be ungenerous not to own our obligations to the learned Dr. Black- flone, whofe commentary on the laws of Eng- land affords the moft accurate and clear idea of the Britifli conftitution j and in fome meafure does what had been defpaired of by others, reconciles law and philofophy. Having defcribcd our interior government and laws, it was thought a neceffary conclufion to this work to exhibit a (hort hiftorical view of our naval tranfadions from the time when our navy became refpedlable by the defeat of the Spanifli Armada, to the end of the late fuc- cefsful war. Nor will this be fo foreign from our principal defign, as may appear on a tran- lient glance : for in this we (liall fee the ef- fedl of wife regulations on land powerfully ope- rating on the ocean, we (hall fee how far a juft policy at home is capable of rendering us formi- dable in every part abroad. This, it is hoped, will fuffice (nor could lefs have been fufficient) to give the reader a previous idea of the nature of the colledion here put into bis hands i of the labour this work hath cii^, ■m ts, leave 1 n other J natural 1 nates to 1 led our- }J e people ■ advan- I :our)try. 1 is thcle 1 "Je envy '^tji 5 part of 1 )us not \ Black- r f Eng- t. idea of \ neafure \ others. 1 ;nt and 1 iion to i lew of ■f *n our m of the m ; fuc- ■1 from ;| tran- ■i le ef- 1 ' ope- 1 ajuft ;i :rmi-. > ''it d lefs '! vious I into > * O'l^, i^f -- 1 ': PREFACE. __ • ■ ■ xui of the many volumes we have been obliged to wade through, and which were to be read, though they were at length to be rejedled. Men not verfed in ftudies of this kind are apt to over- look a collector's alliduity, and dcfpifc his care; yet it is neceflary, both for the improvement and entertainment of mankind, that there fhould be fuch writers, men of ftudious application and humble aims, willing to promote knowlege with- out being known, and to fmooth the way to vidtories which they are not to fliare. The pains we have been at is unnecefTary to be iniifted on ; the expence which this work has cod is obvious. It was our defign to make fuch a colledlion as would aflFord at once the utility of a geographical fyftem, and the amufement of itinerary adven- tures : to offer nothing of our own but what was neceflary to conned: the materials, and to give nothing from any other but what might be depended upon as true. While there are readers willing to acquire knowlege without pain, and entertainment without interruption, a work of this kind mufl: be ufeful. And this we may ven- ture to fay, that we undertook the tafk not be- caufe we thought that the work was likely to fell, but becaufe we knew it was wanting. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. A SHORT Introduflion to a general knowlegc of the Earth, and the firft Principles of Geogra- phy, page I The Firft Voyage of Chriftopher Columbus, on difcovery, ,. 6i The Second Voyage of Columbus, to America, 98 The Third Voyage of Columbus, to America, 1 24 The Fourth Voyage of Columbus, to America, 142 Difcoveries of the Spaniards, from the Death of Columbus, to the Expedition of Hernando Cortes, 1 7^ The Conqueft of Mexico, by Hernando Cortes, 199 The Difcovery of Golden Caftile, 349 The Conqueft of Peru, by Francis Pizarro, ^6^ A Voyage to South America, by Don George Juan, and Don Antonio de UUoa, 411 Remarks on the Trade between Spain and the Weft Indies, . . 489 Some Particulars relating to the Inhabitants of Pata- gonia, 505 » / i V. i !■ ■^ 'At s.\ iJ V I i I. Ji, ..'•'* '-^t ►"■»■* -i4i A S H O R T I NTRODUCTION T O A GKNEKaL KNOWLEGE of the earth, -:-■ AND THE . ' , FIRST PRINCIPLES of GEOGRAPHY, BEFORE wc dcfcend to the doftrine of the Earth and its affedions, it will not be imper- tinent to premife a fummary view of the So- lar fyftem of which it h a part : as the feveral par- ticulars comprehended under the term Geography, cannot be adequately underftood, without attending to the confideration of the Earth as a planet -, which will account for feveral principles that muft elfe be received implicitly, without underftanding the caufes from whicii they are to be deduced. . i, 'f ' The moft confpicuous celeftial objefb which at- trads our notice, is that glorious luminary the Sun 5 the parent of light and heat to thofe feveral bodies which moving round it in regular orbits * and ftated periods, from weft to eaft, conftitute that family of Planets denominated the Solar fyftem. " By the orbit of a planet is to be underftood that path it de- fciibes in fpace round the Sun ; whofe attraftion combining with the planet's projeftile force, (which tends to carry it forward in a direft line) retains and caufes it to regard the Sun as a centre, re- volving continually round, without ever deviating from its regular courfe. Vol. I. Of 2 INTRODUCTION. Of thcfc, Aftronomcrs have difcovcrcd fix, which are diftinguifhed by the names of Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. But though fo intimately connedled with us in the fame relation to our common Sun-, yet by reafon of their great dif- tances, thefe planets are not diftinguifhable by the eye from the fixed (tars, excepting by a fuperior brightnefs. The Sun, an immenfi* globe of fire, is placed near the common centre of the orbits of all the planets which compofe our fyftem. His diameter is com- puted to be 763 thoufand miles ; he turns round his own axis * in 25 days 6 hours, of our time; as is difcovered by attending to the motion of fpots on his furface-, and, by the various attractions of the circumvolving planets, he is agitated by a fmall n.otion round the centre of gravity of the whole fyftem. Mercury, the neareft planet to the Sun, defcribes his revolution in 87 days 23 hours nearly, of our time; which is therefore the length of his year. But being fo near the Sun, and no fpots being feen on his furface, the time of rotation on his axis, or the length of his day and night, remains as yet un- known. His diameter is computed at 2600 miles, and his diftance from the Sun to be about 36 millions of miles •]-. The light and heat he receives from the Sun are almoft feven times as great in degree as * The axi3 of a planet is a line conceived to be drawn through the centre of it, from one fide to the other, about which it revolves as on a real fpindle ; the extremities of this line terminating at op- poilte points of the planet's furface, are called the poles of it. •j- The diftances of the planets from the Sun here afligned differ from thofe hitherto received, bein^ much larger : they are taken or. the authority of the ingenious Mr. Fergufon (whom we have in gene- ral followed in this little compendium) as afcertained from obferva- tions of the late traniit of Venus over the difk of the Sun, in 1761. See the TaUle, p, lo, - ^ ^ ,V . . ■;. ' ■ with IX, which y, Venus, ut though le relation great dif- )le by the a fupcrior laced near le planets er is corn- round his me ; as is f fpots on ns of the y a fmall he whole defcribcs y, of our his year. )eing feen s axis, or as yet un- co miles, 6 millions ves from degree as iwn through h it revolves ating at op- s of it, fligned differ are taken or lave in gene- om obferva- iin, in 1761. with INTRODUCTION. f with us : yet is the great heat of this planet no fuf- ficient argument againft its being inhabited. Heat and cold are relative terms, and as our globe is in- • habited, it is a conclufion warranted by analogic rea- foning, that all other globes which like us revolve round the Sun, are alio furnifhcd with inhabitants 5 whofe conilitutions are fuitably framed to the cir- cumftances of their fituation. When viewed through a good telefcope. Mercury exhibits all the various phafes of the Moon, excepting that we never fee him quite full j for, when his enlightened fide is turned full toward our Earth, he is either wholly loft in the Sun's beams, or hid by the intcrpofition of that grand luminary. The next planet in order is Venus, whofc diameter is 7906 miles, and her diftance from the Sun near 69 millions of miles. She goes round the Sun in 224 days 1 7 hours nearly, of our time : but Altronomers dif- ifer greatly as to the length of her day ; Bianchini making it equal to 24 4 of our days -, while Caflini makes her diurnal revolution to be in 23 hours; and Kepler and others compute it to be in about 14 hours : a difagreement owing to the difficulty of making accurate obfervations from her fpots. When Venus appears weftward of the Sun, ftie rifes before him, and is then our morning ftar ; when fhe ap- pears eaftward of him, (he fets later, and is then called the evening ftarj being each in turn for 290 days. Venus and Mercury are called inferior planets, from their orbits being included within that of the Earth. :^ , . , • , ' ■ • ■ - The Earth which we inhabit, is the next planet beyond Venus in the fyftem ; at the diftance of near ^5 millions of miles from the Sun; which it encircles in 365 days 5 hours 49 minutes, as meafured by the B 2 time II ; 4 INTRODUCTION. time of its diurnal revolution round its own axiJ. 1'he diameter of the earth is 7970 miles j and by turning round its axis every 24 hours from weft to caft, it caufes, to its inhabitants, who conceive it ta be at reft, an apparent motion of all heavenly bo- dies from eaft to weft in the fame time : a deception which all the penetration of many of the antient phi- lofophers, could not enable them to corredt ; and which aflTords a ftriking inftance of the danger of trufting wholly to appearances, and the evidence of our fenPis. By its diurnal rotation, the inhabitants of the equatorial parts, are rapidly carried 1042 miles every hour, while the Earth itfelf proceeds at the rate of 58 thoufand miles, in the fame fpace of time, on its annual paftage round the Sun I This amazing motion, though 120 times fwiftcr than that of a can- non ball, is yet but little more than half the fwift- nefs of Mercury ! And however this may ftagger the belief of perfons not ufed to fuch contempla- tions i if the Earth were fuppofed to be fixed, and all the heavenly bodies to move round it, as they feem to do, principles muft be admitted infinitely more fhocking to probability in every point of view. The Earth is accommodated with an attendant planet or fatellite called the Moon •, whicK regards the Earth as a primary, moving round it, as the Earth moves round the Sun. Like the Earth, the Moon is a dark globe, fliining only by refle6ting the light of the Sun: its diameter is 2180 miles, and its dif- tance from the centre of the Earth 240 thoufand miles-, revolving round it in 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes. When the Moon is between us and the Sun, fhe difappears, as her dark fide is then turned toward us •, as (he proceeds onward, we begin to fee her enlightened fide, which we call the new Moon, this increafes to our view as ftie advances, until ftje comes to be oppofite to the Sun ; when her whole enlightened face being turned toward the Earth, (he » appears INTRODUCTION. § appears with a round illumined orb, which we term the full Moon. From the full, Ihe fecms to dccrcafc gradually through the other half of her courfc, un- til her next conjunction with the Sun, when Ihc dif- appears as cycforc. The Moon turnj round her axis in the lame time exa(5tly as fhe revolves round the Earth i v/hich is the rtalbn that the fame fide of her is alway. toward us j and that her day and night taken togeti^er, are as long as our lunar month. To inhabitants of the Moon the Earth muft appear the biggeft body in the Univerfe, ferving it in the capacity of a Moon, thirteen times as large as that appears to us. The Earth niuft wax and wane re- gularly to her : when flic changes to us, the Earth will appear full to her j and when flie is in her firfl: quarter to us, the Earth is in its third cjuarter to her ; ^nd fo vice yerfa^ , All dark bodies expofed to the light of the Sun, caft a fliadow behind them ; which is nothing but a privation of light in the fpace oppofite to the Sun, by the rays being intercepted by the opaque body : and the Earth and Moon being both opaque bodies, which derive all their light from the Sun •, when cither of them interpofes, the other will in fome meafure be obfcurcd. Thus, a folar eclipfe is occafioned by the interpofition of the Moon betwixt the Sun and the ^arth •, and a lunar eclipfe, by that of the Earth be- twixt the Sun and the Moon. Such is the bulk of the Sun, and the diftances of the feveral planets, that the primary planets can never eclipfe each other : a pri- mary planet can only eclipfe its fccondary, or be cclipfed by it j and then only when in oppofuion to, qr conjundlion with, the Sun, The Moon being lefs than the Earth, her fliadow can never cover the whole globe, but only a part i ^nd a total darknefs happens only to thofc inhabitants B 3 included A e INTRODUCTION. included within the fhadow : the circumjacent parts ■within the penumbra or partial ftiadow, will receive different degrees of illumination, according to the diftance from the centre of the real (hadow. Beyond the limits of this penumbra, the Sun's fjice appears entire, and no eclipfe is perceived. As it is evident there can be no eclipfe of the Sun, but when the Moon is in the change, fo there can be no eclipfe of the Moon but at the time of the full : and fince there is a new and full Moon every month, it may be proper to point out the reafon why therp is not an eclipfe at thofe times in every month alfo. Did the orbit of the Moon coincide with the plane of the Earth's orbit, there would be a total eclipfe of the Moon at every full, and a central eclipfe of the Sun at every change. But their orbits being placed obliquely, interfedl each other in two points called nodes, where the Moon's orbit is found to make an angle of about five degrees with the ecliptic. The Moon, therefore, may be in fuch a polition from the nodes, as to pafs the oppofition or conjun6lion either too high or too low to enter the fliadow of the Earth, or to have her fhadow or penumbra fall upon the Earth. Hence it is, that every new and full Moon do not necelTarily occafion an eclipfe : and it will far- ther appear, that no eclipfe can happen but when the Moon is near one of her nodes ; when her diftance from it will determine the quantity of the eclipfe. Both kind of eclipfes, may be either total, partial, or central. ■ - » The planet Mars is the next in order, beyond the orbit of the Earth. His diftance from the Sun is computed to be near 145 millions of miles, and he goes round it in 6S6 of our days and 23 hours •, which is iherefore the length of his year: the time of his diurnal revolution exceeds ours by 40 minutes. His . ■ diameter 'j!j i 'I I I r ' • cent parts 'ill receive ig to the Beyond :e appear* f the Sun, :re can be ■ the full : y month, y therp is alfo. the plane al eclipfe eclipfe of ig placed us called make an . The from the on either le Earth, pon the 11 Moon will far- ^hen the dilliance eclipfe. utial, or )nd the i Sun is and he which ? of his 5. His iametef INTRODUCTION. 7 diameter is 4444 miles ; the Sun appears but half fo large to him as to us -, and his proportion of light and heat but half of what we receive. This planet being but a fifth part fo large as the Earth, if he is attended by any moon, it muft be very fmall; and no one has yet been diicovered by our beft tele- fcopes. Jupiter, the largeft of all the planets, is ftill higher in the fyftem •, being about 493 millions of miles from the Sun. He is above 1000 times as large as our Earth, his diameter being 81 thoufand uiiles : he accompliflies his annual period in 1 1 of our years, 314 days, and 12 hours ; and turns round his axis in 9 hours 56 minutes. Jupiter is fometimes feen to be furrounded with fome faint appearances which are called belts •, but fo many changes are obfervable in them, fometimes vanilhing entirely, that nothing can be determined of them. To Jupiter the Sun appears but tt P^rt fo large as he does to us ; and muft communicate light and heat in proportion. But this deficiency is compen- fated by the quick fuccefllon of his days ; and by four moons, fome larger and fome lefs than our Earth, which revolve about him : fo that there is no part of this large planet, but what is enlightened by one or more of them, during the night feafon. The firfl: moon, or that neareft him, goes round him in i day, 18 hours, ^6 minutes of our time, at the diftanceof 229 thoufand miles from his centre •, thefecond, per- forms his revolution in 3 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes, at 364 thoufand miles diftance ; the third, in 7 days, 3 hours, 59 minutes, at the diftance of 580 thoufand miles ; and the fourth or outermoft, in 16 days, i3 hours, 30 minutes, at one million of miles diftance from his centre. The three neareft of his moon^ pafs through his fhadow and are eclipfed in every re- volution i but the orbit of his fourth nioon is fo much B 4 inclined. « I N T R o D u e T I o n: inclined, that it paffes its oppolition to Jupiter with-, out falling into his fhadow, two years in every fix. By thefe cclipfes aftronomers have not only difcovered that the Sun^s light is eight minutes of time in coming to us-, but they can alfo determine the iono;itudc of places on this Earth, with greater facility and certainty, than by any other method yet Jcnown. • Saturn, the mofl: remote of all the planets, is about 904 millions of miles from the Sun : his diameter is 6y thoufand miles *, he is therefore near 600 times the fize of our Earth. He performs his annual cir- cuit in 29 of our years, 167 days, 5 hours; but not having any fpots on his body which are vifible to us at this diilance, the pofition of his axis, the time of his turning round it, and the length of his day and night, are of confqqpence unknown to us. To Sa- turn the Sun appears only -^ part fo large as he is feen by us ; to which his light and heat bear pro- portion : but then he is attended with five moons, the periods and diftances of which are as follows. The firft or neareft moon goes round him in i day, 21 hours, iQ minutes, at the diftance of 140 thou- fand miles from his centre ^ the fecond, in 2 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes, at 187 thoufand miles dif«^ tance ; the third, in 4 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, at 263 thoufand miles diitance; the fourth, in 15 days* 22 hours, 41 minutes, at 600 thoufand miles dif* tance ; and the fifth or outermoft, in 79 days, 7 hours, 48 minutes, at 1 million 800 thoufand mile;^ diftance. t '.* 6r Be0de thefe five moons, Saturn is accommodated ■with a fingular phaenomenon, being furrounded by a broad thin illumined ring,- at about 21 thoufand xniles diftance; and being alfo about the fame breadth. One half of this ring is enlightened by the Sun for near 15 of our years together, that is, for one 7 . ; ." ^^^^ INTRODUCTION. ^ half of Saturn's folar revolution *, for fp long time therefore will this r^n^ be vifible and invifible alter- nately : but (bpqld the axis of the planet be inclined to the ring, it would appear and difappcar once every of their natural days, to the inhabitants, for a diftance pn each fide of Saturn's equinoftial, equal to the lup- pofcd inclination. Many other cafes might be dated ^rom different fuppofitions •, which, though they would prove entertaining to fpecwlatiyp readers, pur limiti ^ill not allow us to dwell upon, atiUL. a - ■, I . - . ,f '•J v»< •"if' •^ . :'-t -.J ^ ... i«-JOl k ■^i -V ■ i-> -U t ■» »-i v<^ ■ 1 ;- :" .- .*i,» ". f t • }■' a" r A ■t,.* .»« ^* * 1^ '"iv,i>^y««^.^«r*d. ../*»4** » < m ■'-'I INTRODUCTION. Ui c > o U <^ CO -a o i-i CU $2 *a B Q o 4-1 o • , '■ . - ■ "' y.,..' :.,■■■/ ''.'.'.., ;■ ' in 'If . B2^§.^5.<^ ' Q P 8 r^ *3 ** 5 C • M fN. N « tN, M 4S s- •-< ^ fvl „ H^ c^ s 3 CO .2.- • M CJ Ti- lO ON Moons. M tS CO rt- to J- , . . .. . . ■. 1 ^ . i • vO lO o o ^ fc en M lo PO 3 ci O C s S . 00 CO cooo CO CO J- f ^ .C I-I W M t-) .2 ^ ^- « CO IX \0 Oi 3 eJi-S Moons. ►-* cs CO Th "/-..^^ Inclination of Axis to Orbit. O .>4 O .^ OOCVOCONOOC 3 tx CJ 3 r,'+ Diurnal ^ NO C « tJ- «r»C rotations. ' ^ CJ 3 M c« 3 i . CO txO CO N ts. Annual periods round th( Sun. r>. T*. vr» o NO N O^ • 00 C>t NO ij OO CO lO ^ rj co.ti sO CO t-^ •T3 "^ O CO rt C <*. -* . IX rh Th IX O ON c c "-« ^ ^^ to CO O OO Cr-) CO - CJ »^ r\ « t> »N «> ".:: oo oo lo 00 ^ o i^ *■' *-■ L~ c NO "-• c^ . OO nO o C vo lo IX O vOnO vO rj NO oo Tf.ti Th N fO HH cOsO O^'O Tj- o^ o •XJ 0) c rt 4: c 5 *-* c i- r* •< Me from deter obf the t nil I-. Th 0> . O O vO o o ^t« o o w o o o «xoo -^ o o Diameters » Ji OvO OnONi-i -^o o ii; cooitxtxn Th- tx • ^ vO 00 NO ^ IX Ties the nets. 3 W *^ r=: ►— >CO w» % i. ; t>. ^ ON '..1. ♦ *o f-^. * ~Jt w J ', *" J'-Jv !■: i i • ' # h \ ■) N W^ INTRODUCTION. n We have now gone through a general account of the regular bodies which compofe the folar fyftcm. But thefe are not all which belong to it •, fcr we are fometimes vifited by erratic bodies called Comets. Thefe move in very eccentric ellipfes, and return ac very different periods j three of which being calcu* lated arc found to return at intervals of 75, 129, and gy^ .years. This laft Comet, at its fartheft recefs, muft be about 1 1 thoufand 200 millions of miles from the Sun : while its lead diftance from the centre of the Sun is but 490 thoufand miles •, within iefs than 4. part of the Sun's femidiameter from his furfacc. At this part of its orbit, in going round the Sun, its fwiftnefs is found to be that of 880 thoufand miles in an hour 1 The aftonilhing length which this Comet flies to in the univerfal fpace, naturally fuggefts to our imagination the vaft diftance betwixt our Sun and the neareft of the fixed ftars ! whofe attraction the Comets cannot reach, to return periodically to the Sun : and hints to us that thofe ftars fhining by their own luftre, are alfo Suns each furrounded with its fe- veral fyftem of planets, all reduced to one point of vi- fion, by their aftonilhing diftance. , v ; > The near approach fome of thefe Comets make to the Sun is fuch, as would vitrify any known fubftance : the heat which that of the year 1680 thus acquired, was calculated by Sir Ifaac Newton to exceed by 2000 times, that of red hot iron 5 and that being thus heated, it would retain its heat during its revolution until it returned to the Sun, were it 20 thoufand years inftead of 575. It is believed that there are at leaft 21 comets belonging to our fyftem, moving in all diredions. r,. > . . The Comets appear with long tranfparent trains or tails extending from that fide which is oppofite the Sun ; the nature of which has afforded much room for conjcdure and controverfy. But from the cir- cumftance 12 INTRODUCTION. Gumftance of their conftant oppofition to the Sun, it is not improbable that they may be their feveral lucid atniofphcres, which though loft in the rays of the Sun on their enlightened fides, may nevcrthelels be vifible in their (hacjows. That the univerfal fpace in which the celeftial bodies move, is a vacuum, fcems moft reconcilable to phjcnomena, and to reafon ; whatever the Carte- fians and others may oppole to the contrary. We find all mediums that we are acquainted with, to re- tard the motion of bodies, in proportion to the den- fity of fuch medium : as the planets therefore proceed with fuch uniform motions, it argues^ that the fpace in which they move muft be void of all fenfible re- fiftance, and confequently of all fenfible matter \ ex- cept perhaps, as Sir Ifaac Newton fuppofes, fome few and much rarified effluvia of the planets and comets, and the paffing rays of light. This is farther corroborated by confiderlng the azure colour of the fky ; which admits of being more rationally accounted for on the principleof a vacuvim, than upon any other principle. Where there is nq matter to reflect the rays of light, (whatever thole rays may by hypothefes be fuppofed to be), they will pafs through fuch place, and leave it totally dark : now if the univerfal fpace be fuppofed to be totally dark ; fuch darknefs, feen through the enlightened atmo- fphere which furrounds the Earth, will neceflarily be foftened into an azure blue : and this we experience to be the colour of the flcy ; with this farther evidence in favour of the pofi^ion, that the darker and clearer the air is, in the night feafon, the Sun and Moon being abfent \ of the deeper colour do we find the Iky to appear. ■ The planetary motions admit of being phyfically accounted for from the known laws of motion. Thus ti.:: ". .. mathe- .-,jV % Si INTRODUCTION* 15 mathematicians and aftronomers fay, that from the uniform projedtile motion of bodies in llraight lines, and the power of attradion, which draws them off from their reftilincal courfes, the curviHneal motions of all the planets arife. If a body which we will call A^ be projeded along a right line, in open fpace where it meets with no refinance, and without being in- fluenced by any other power i it will proceed for ever in the fame direction, and with the fame velocity. For the force with which it moves any given diftance, in any given time, will carry it as much farther, in as much more time. But if, when its- proje6lile force has carried it fome way, a fuperior body, as 5, Ihould begin to attraft it, with a power duly adjulted, and perpendicular to its direction *, it is demonilrable from the laws of the compofition of forces, that the fmaller body A would be drawn from its ftraight line, and re- volve about the attracting body R : and if at any part of its orbit, a third body yet fmaller, as C, fliould come within the fphere of the attraction of the re- volving body A^ with a projedile direction perpendi- cular to the attraction •, this third body would be drawn into an orbicular motion round A^ and will attend it in its courle round the largeft body B. Here the bodies A^ B and C, are put in the circum- Itances of the Earth, Sun, and Moon. ; .. . - By laws which it is net incumbent on us to enter into, it is found that bodies moving in fpace void of refiftance, revolve in all kind of eilipfes, long and fliort, according to the proportion the prqjeCtiie force and gravitating power bear to each other : a very nice balance between them being requifite to produce a circular orbit. Thofe planets which move in long eilipfes, have their projeCtile force greatly fpent in the higher parts of their orbits ♦, and their velocities in returning toward the Sun, prodigioufly increafed by his attraction. Here then their centrifugal forces are fo great, as to overcome jthe Sun's attraction, and to ^^ 14 INTRODtrCTION. to caufe them to afcend again ttoward the higher parts of their orbits : during which time, the Sun*s attrac- tion adting contrary to their motion, caules them to proceed 'flower and Hower, until by the diminution of their projectile forces, they are brought back again by the Sun's attraction as before. •,; * : "Without entering into hypothetical reafoning on the inexplicable nature of gravity ; it is evident that in whatever that power may confift, it aCLs every mo- ment of time : for Ihould its adlion ceafe, the pro- jedtile force would inftantly carry off the planets in tangents from thofe parts of their orbits where they ■were freed from the reftraint of gravity. But being once put in motion, there is no occafion .for any new projectile impulfe, unlefs they met with refiftance in their orbits -, or were too much difturbed by their mutualattradtions. ; " . • Were there no reciprocal aCtion upon each other among the planets, the areas defcribed by them, would be exactly proportionate to the times in v^^hich they were defcribed. But obfervation has taught us, that fuch propOi tion is not exaCtly maintained *, and that tlie greateft deviations from it are, when the grcateft number of planets are in any particular quar- ter of the fyftem. Whenever two planets happen to be in conjunction, their mutual attractions, which tend to draw them nearer to each other, withdraws the inferior fomewhat from the Sun, and caufes the -fuperior to advance a little toward him ; by which means the figures of their orbits fuflfer fome altera- ^tion : illary, or Artificial Sphere, is an inftru- ment reprefenting the feveral circles of the fphere in their naturar order i ferving to give an idea of the nature and pofition of them, relatively to each other \ ..nd to refolve and illuftratc various problems con- cerning the Earth. It is called armillary fphere, as confiding of a number of rings of brafs or other metal, in allufion to the ancient armilLu, which were rings or bracelets for the arms. ^ . Before we enter upon the confideration of circles, it is to be premifcd that all circles are commenfurable with each other ; and are divided into 360 parts, in reference to the circumference of the Earth at the equator; which is 360 degrees; each degree being fubdivided into 60 miles or minutes. A great circle of the fphere, is one whofe circum- ference is equal to that of the fphere, and whofe diameter and centre arc the fame with thofe of the fphere. .^ _ ^ • The vifo extremities of the Earth*s axis are called its poles ; one of which is known by the name of the ar^icj or north pole, and the other by that of the :f /MM ■, as the ntioning rus, Ge- r, Leo, The INTRODUCTION. TTJ The autumnal figns, are Libra, Scorpio, Sagit- tarius ; V r The brumal or winter figns, are Capricornus," Aquarius, l^ifccs. The vernal and fummer figns are called northern figns ; as being on the northern fide of the equator : and the autumnal and brumal figns are called fouthern figns, from a like reafon. The 'Tropics may be defined two lefifer circles of the globe, parallel to the equator, on either fide, mark- ing the greateft recefs of the Sun from the equator toward each pole ; or fliewing the greateft northern and fouthern declination of the Sun, or obliquity of the ecliptic. Of the Tropics, that drawn through the begin- ning of Cancer, is called the Tropic of Cancer •, and the other through the beginning of Capricorn, the Tropic of Capricorn. ^ A Meridian is a great circle pafilng through the poles of the Equator, and dividing the globe into the eaftern and weftern hemiipheres ; it marks the time of noon, or when the Sun is at its greateft altitude over any place. A meridian is an arbitrary circle ; and as every part of the globe eaftward or weftward has a different meridian belonging to it, meridians may be drawn through any point in the Equator : all places under the fame meridian, and on the fame fide of cither pole, have their noon at the fame time ; but of two places under the fame meridian, on different fides of either pole, the mid-noon of one anlwers to mid-night of the other. There are two meridians called CcJures ; the one conceived to pafs through the equinodial points of interfe6i;ion with the ecliptic, at the beginning of C 2 Ariej ■^ 20 I N T R O U CT I O I^. Aries and Libra ; the other at right angles to the former, through the firft degrees of Cancer and Ca- pricorn : thcfe nrjark the commencement of the dif- ferent feafons at every place fituated under them ; and are hence called the equinoflial, and folftitial colures. The Horizon is a great circle of the fphcre, di- viding the world into two hemifphercs, the one tipper and vifible, the other lower and invifible. The ho- rizon is either fenfible or rational : the fenfible horizon is a circle touching the Earth in the point whereon we ftand, the plane of which extends all round as far as our fight can reach : the rational horizon may be defined to be a plane pafling through the centre of the Earth, and extended infinitely every way, parallel to the fenfible horizon. The vifible horizon is moft accurately obferved at fea, the inequalities and ob- ftru(5lions on land being great impediments : and it may be obferved that in looking through the fights of a quadrant at the fartheft part of the fea within view, the vifual rays will, by the convexity of the furface of the fea, point a little below the true fenfible ho-; rizon. Horizons, like meridians, are moveable circles ; every different place having a different horizon. The exa6l fituation of particular places and cities, is afcertained by determining their latitude and lon- gitude. The Latitude of any place, is its dift^nce northward or fouthward from the equator, meafured upon its meridian. But as numbers of places lie under the fame parallels of latitude, the latitude of a place only, will not point out its fituation without alfo knowing its longitude. 4 The ^les to the er and Ca- of the dif- Jder them ; 'd folftitiai fphcre, dr- one upper The ho- >le horizon It whereon und as far n may be centre of r, parallel n is mod s and ob- :s: and it e fights of thin view, he furface nfible ho^ ■ circles 5 :on. nd cities, and lon- orthward upon its inder the ace only, knowing The 1 INTRODUCTION. ax The Longitude of any place, is the knowlege of the meridian of fuch place. Hence where the parallel of latitude, and the meridian of the place interfedl each other, there its fituation is pointed out. The latitude of any place is eafily found, as it is meafurecj from a known and invariable circle of the globe ; but it is otherwife as to longitude ; geography not fup- plying any rule for fixing a firli meridian, from which all others may be meafured and determined. It has therefore been the practice of geographers to fix upon the meridian of fome r^emarkable place or city to meafure from, as a firft meridian -, to which all other meridians refer. Ptolemy fixed it at the remarkable ifland of Teneriff, one of the Canary iflands ; as being the moft weftern part of the then known world. The French geographers altered it to Ferro, another of the famed ulSr of iflands ; but now geographers of every nation generally reckon their longitude caftward and weftward from their refpedtive capital cities. To difcover a certain method for finding the lon- gitude at fea, is a problem which has extremely per- plexed the mathematicians for thefe two laft ages -, and for the folution whereof great rewards have been publicly offered by the Englilh, French, Dutch, and other nations ; this being the only article wanting to render navigation perfc(5t. Various are the attempts that have been made, and methods propofed, but without fuccefs ; their principles being found pre- carious or falfe, or their methods impra(^icable. All methods depending on the phenomena of the heavens, having this one defeft, that they cannot be obferved at all times •, and being befide of difficult and uncertain application at fea, from the motion of the veflel ; many enquirers, leaving the moon, and fa- tellites of Jupiter, have recourfe to clocks and other time pieces. Covild thefe be made perfectly juft and '■ C 3 regular, 22 /• c INTRODUCTION. regular, fo as to keep true time without gaining or lofingi and without being afFefted by change of air and difference of climates-, the longitude of a fhip's place might thence be found with all required accuracy. For, fince by the diurnal mo- tion of the Earth, every point upon its furface de- fcribes the circumference of a circle or 360*^, in twenty four hours, it is plain it muft defcribe 15'' in one hour : hence the difference of longitude may be con- verted into time, and time into difference of lon- gitude ; confequently by knowing the one, we are enabled to difcover the other. Whatever contrivance therefore will fhevv the hours of the day at the fame abfolute point of time in two different places, will alfo ferve to find the difference of longitude between thofe places. Such a machine has by long and affi- duous fludy, and repeated trials at lea, been fo far effefted by Mr. Harrifon, a very ingenious watch- maker, that he has obtained half the reward due by ad of parliament, to the perfon making fuch di& covery to an affigned degree of accuracy. Degrees of latitude are all afTumed equal in length,, but degrees of longitude vary in every parallel of lati- tude : for ail meridians meeting in one point at the poles, the degrees o^ longitude neceffarily diminifli as they recede on either fide from the equator. An orange with the rind flripped off, is a good illuftra- tion of this fad ; where the natural divifions of the fruit, are a lively reprefentation of the meridians of a globe : and tranfverfe fedions, or flices of it cut crofsw.;ys, will lliew how the diflances between them leffen, from the middle flice, which may be fuppofed to (hew the plane of the equator, to the lefTer flices either way, toward thofe points where the divifions all m.eet. The follow ing table Oiews the length of a degree of longitude, through all the parallels of latitude, fron> INTRODUCTION. 23 from the equator where it is reckoned at 60 miles or parts, to the poles where it diminilhes to nothing. A TABLE: Shewing the length of a Degree of Longitude, at every parallel of Latitude. ( 1 at. Miles. Min. 1 £quator 60 00 Lat. Miles. Min. Lat. Miles. Min. I 59 56 3" 5» 24 61 29 04 2 59 55 32 5^ 52 61 28 08 . 3 59 52 33 50 20 63 27 12 4 59 50 34 49 44 64 26 16 5 59 46 35 49 08 65 25 . 20 6 59 40 36 48 32 66 24 24 7 59 37 . 37 47 56 67 23 2S 8 59 24 38 47 16 68 22 32 9 59 10 39 46 36 % 21 32 10 59 00 40 46 00 70 20 32 1 1 58 52 41 45 16 71 19 32 12 58 40 42 44 36 72 18 32 »3 58 28 43 43 52 73 17 32 H 58 12 44 43 08 74 16 32 '5 5S 00 ^5 42 24 75 15 32 10 57 40 46 41 40 76 14 32 17 57 20 47 41 00 77 13 32 18 51 04 48 40 08 7» 12 32 19 56 44 49 39 20 79 II 28 20 56 24 50 38 32 80 10 24 ( 21 56 00 51 37 44 81 9 20 22 55 36 52 37 00 82 8 20 23 55 12 53 36 08 83 7 20 24 54 48 54 35 26 84 6 12 1 25 5+ 24 55 34 24 85 5 '2 26 54 00 56 35 32 86 4 '2 27 5Z 28 57 32 40 ^7 3 12 28 53 00 58 3' 48 88 2 4 29 52 28 59 31 00 89 I 4 ?,° 51 56 60 30 00 1 91. 00 c 1 ne i4 INTRODUCTION. The before defcribed circles of the fphere, fcrvc equally for geographical, and for aftronomical com- putations : geographers conceive them to be on the •furface of the Earth ; while aftronomers extend and transfer them to the orb which bounds our view of the vaft cxpanfe of the Univerfe. That the Earth is of a fpherical form, is a truth too well afcertained by phasnomena and analogic rea- soning, to need defending now : the demonftrative proofs of its having been failed round by navigators ; the manner of the firft appearance, and lad difappear- ance of fliips at fea •, the maft-head firft, and then gradually more and more down to the hull, being feen in the firft cafe, which difappear inveriely in the fecond cafe ; and laftly, the conftant circular ap- pearance of the ftiadow of the Earth as feen in eclipfes of the Moon •, all eftablifli this great truth beyond poffibility of doubt. The aeep valiies and ftupen- dous mountains and rocks which give the Earth fo rough and irregular an appearance to our minute in- :fpe<5tion on the furface, are no greater interruptions to its globular figure, than the little protuberances m the (kin of an orange or lemon. • * I The fpherical form of the Earth, according to Sir Ifaac Newton, arifes from the great principle of at- tradlion, which the Creator has ftamped on all the matter of the Univerfe : whereby all bodies and their conftituent parts, mutually tend toward, and attrad each other. Hence ariics the fpherical figure of drops of rain, quickfilver, and other detached portions of fluids. ' " . < ■- . ■■■ Though we call the Earth a fphere, it is found not to be abfolutely fo; its equatorial diameter being longer than its polar -, Sir Ifaac Newton afcertains the difference to be about 34 miles ; fo that its figure fomewhat refembles that of a nine-pin bowl, 'fwelling out INTRODUCTION. 25 out toward the equator, and Battel ajt the poles, ia the form that mathematicians term an oblate Ipheroid. If the Earth were in a fluid ftate, its revolujion round its axis would necefTarily make it aflfume fuch a figure i as the centrifugal force bein[> greateft under the equator, would throw the fluid toward the equa- torial parts, where it would rife and fwell mod : and that its figure ftiould really be fo now, feems confo- nant to reafon, as otherwile the Sea in that part of the Earth, would overflow the Land, - This theory is greatly confirmed and illuflrated, by attending to the circumftances and figure of the planet Jupiter. As this planet, which is fo much larger than the Earth, revolves in 9 hours, 56 mi- nutes 'y it appears that his equatorial parts mult have an amazing velocity, and muft throw him into a fpheroidal form. Accordingly the difference between his equatorial and polar diameters is found to be 6230 miles: fo that his poles are 3 115 miles nearer his centre, than his equator is. This is the neceffary re- fult of the quick motion round his axis : for, the fluids with fo much earth as is waftied away with them, muft recede from the poles which are nearly at reft (as to his diurnal motion) toward the equator where the motion is exceffively rapid ; unt' a fuffi- cient quantity fliould be there accumulatec^, tO balance the deficiency of gravity, loft by the centrifugal force : when this equilibrium is adjufted, the equa- torial parts would rife no higher ; but his figure re- main permanent. Our Earth being but fmall, com- pared with him, and its motion much flower, is of courfe lefs altered by it; hence our poles are but about 17 miles nearer the centre, than the furface at the equator is. In the firft volume of Dr. Long's Aftronomy, is .mentioned an ingenious method of finding nearly the proportion of Land to Sea on the furiace of our Earth i •I 26 INTRODUCTION. Earth j which is by carefully cutting out the Land from the paper of a large terreftrial globe, and weighing it againft the paper which reprefents the Sea : this the Dodlor performed, (exclufive of the areas of the polar circles, of the contents of land or water in which we have no proper knowledge) and by the proportion their weights bore to each other, he concluded that almoft three fourth parts of the furface of the Earth are covered with water. By the before- mentioned tropics and polar circles, the Earth is diftinguifhed into five portions or Zones, denominated from the different circumftances attend- ing their fituation. The different Zones are attended with a great diverfity of phasnomena. The horrid Zone is all that middle circumference of the globe included between the two tropics of Cancer and Capricorn •, its breadth is therefore 46® 58': the equator pafTmg through the middle of it, divides it into two equal and parallel parts, each 23** lof broad. The Sun palTes through the Zenith in this Zone twice in every year ; and his recefs from the equator toward the pole which is above the Horizon, is twice a-ycar equal to the height of the Pole. The ancients thought the Torrid Zone to be uninhabitable. ' The temperate Zones are two parallel circumferen- tial portions of the E::!rth*s furface, contained be- tween the tropics and the polar circles, on either fide the Torrid Zone. Their refpe6tive breadths are 43^ 2'. The Sun never reaches the Zenith in thefe Zones. In the Torrid and Temperate Zones, the Sun rifes and fets every natural day j as the diftance of the Sun from the Pole, always exceeds the height of the Pole above the Horizon : yet in every part, excepting under the Equator, the artificial days are unequal; and this inequality is the greater, the far-» ther any place is diftant from the Equator. The INTRODUCTION. if The Frigid Zones, are fegments of the Earth's fur- face, included, the one by the ardic, and the other by the antarflic circles ; the breadth of each is 46° 58'. "Where the Temperate Zones border on the Frigid, the elevation of the Pole is equal to the Sun's dif- tance from it, when in the neighbouring tropic : confcquently once a year the Sun performs a revolu- tion without fmking under the Horizon. Every where in a Frigid Zone, the elevation of the Pole is greater than the leaftdiftance of the Sun from the Pole J therefore in thefe trails, beginning at 66'* 30', at the fummer folftice, the day is a month long, and the night at the winter folllice, is of the fame du- ration : and at the Poles the Sun does not fet for one fix months, nor appear above the Horizon for the next fix months enfuing. . ; , j ^ For the greater precifion in treating of different countries, the Zones are fubdivided into Climates -, ferving to diftinguifh places by the length of their longeft daysj which differ in every parallel of latitude. The day is conflantly 1 2 hours long at the Equa- tor, and increafes in length, in proportion to didances north or fouth from the Equator toward the Poles. A Climate then is a track round the globe parallel to the Equator, wherein the day is half an hour longer than it is in the next fuperior Climate toward the Equator ; and half an hour Ihorter than the next inferior Climate toward the Poles. , There are 30 Climates reckoned between the Equator and either of the Poles ; in the iirft twenty four, the days increafe by half hours ; but in the remaining fix, between each polar circle and the Pole, they differ by months, as will appear by the following Table, Climates ^ INTRODUCTION. ' -i .=■ •% '^ \ I 9. Latitude. Breadth. Longeft 3 Day. en • D. M. D. M. H. M. I 8 25 8 25 12 30 - 2 16 25 8 13 3 23 50 7 25 «3 30 4 30 25 6 30 14 5 36 28 6 8 H 30 V* 6 41 22 4 54 15 7 45 29 4 7 '5 30 ' t '\ 8 49 01 3 32 16 • 9 52 00 2 57 16 30 10 54 27 2 29 17 II 56 37 2 10 17 30 12 58 29 I 52 18 * '3 59 58 1 29 18 30 t U 6i 18 I 20 19 15 62 25 I 7 19 30 i6 63 22 57 20 17 64 06 44 20 30 i8 64 49 43 21 \ 19 65 21 32 21 30 20 65 47 22 22 21 66 06 19 22 30 22 66 20 14 23 ■ ' ^ 23 66 2« 8 23 30 1 24 25 66 67 31 .21 3 24 *■/ I Month ...... 26 69 48 2 Months * 27 73 37 3 Months • ~ 1 23 7« 30 4 Months 29 84 05 5 Months _ . i ^ • 30 90 6 Months . . , "^ The iNTRODtJCtfdTf. tjl The application of this Table i^ very obvious ; fince by knowing the latitude of any particular place ; a fingle infpedtion of the table will Ihew what CHmatc it is in, and the length of the longeft day at one view. However, for the more ready information of the reader, we fliall add, as a kind of Index to the Table, a lift of fome of the moft remarkable places fituated in each Climate. I. Within the firft Climate lie the Gold and Slave coaft in Africa, the Moluccas, the Maldives, Borneo, Malacca, Sumatra, &c. II. Here lie Abyfllnia, Ethiopia, Siam, Cormandel, and the ifland of Ceylon, i i . III. Contains Mecca, Arabiji Felix, Bengal, Ton- quin, and Mexico. • ' • ' '■ ' IV. The ifland of Ormus, in the Perfian-gulf i great part of Indoftan, the Canary iflands, and Alex- andria in Egypt. V. Babylon, Tunis, Rhodes, Ifpahan, Nankin, and Pekin in China. VI. Lifl3on and great part of Portugal, Madrid in Spain, Palermo in Sicily, great part of Greece, Afia Minor, the Perfian provinces on the Cafpian Sea, part of India, and Great Tartary, Corea, and Japan, part of California, New Mexico, Louifiana, Florida, Georgia, part of South Carolina, the Bahama iflands, and the Azores. VII. Bifcay and all the northern provinces of Spain, the fouthern provinces of France, Milan, Rome, Venice, Belgrade, Conft:antihople, the Black Sea, Georgia, the Cafpian Sea, Great Tartary, Bofton in New-England, and Port-Royal in Nota Scotia. VIIL Paris and the interior provinces of France, Vienna, Hungary, Crim Tartary, Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. IX. London, Prague, Francfort, Cracow, the fouthern province of Mufcovy, &c. X. Dublin, 30 INTRODUCTION. X. Dublin, Amftcrdam, Dantzic, Warfaw, and part,of Ruflia. XI. Edinburgh, Copenhagen, &c. •. XII. Gottenburgh, in Sweden, Riga, in Livo- nia, &c. . XIII. Stockholm, the middle parts of the Rufllan dominions in Europe and Afia, part of Terra dc Labrador, on the coaft of Hudfon's Bay. XIV. The Orkney ifles, great part of Norway, Sweden, Ruflia, and Hudfon*s ftraits, &c. XV. Bergen in Norway, part of Finland, and the fouthern part of Greenland, XVI. Perma Welick, a town in Mufcovy. ' XVII. Part of Finland, Ruffia, &:c. .XVIII. Drontheim in Norway. XIX. Tobollki, the capital of Siberia. • XX. TownofViftrum in Finland. XXI. Port of Torna in Bothnia. XXII. Caienbourgh in Ruffia. XXIII. Skalhot in Iceland, v XXIV. Hola in Iceland. XXV. Mofcovite Lapland. . XXVI. Groenland. XXVII. Zembla Auftralis. ,' XXVIII. Zembla Borealis. XXIX. Spitzbergen or Greenland. XXX. Unknown. Beddethe before- mentioned divifions and fubdivl- fions of the Earth, other diftinflions have obtained, which are rather fanciful than ufeful. Thus, the ancients named the inhabitants of the Earth, from the inclination of their fliadows, Perifciiy Heterofcii^ and Amphifcii or JfciL The Perifciiy are thofe beyond the polar circles, whofe (hadows turn round them every 24 hours. ^ ^ ' -' J K . Heterofcti^ INTRODUCTION. ji Heterofciiy are the inhabitants of the Temperate Zones, whofe noon ihadows ever fall one way i the north Temperate Zone throwing them northward, and the fouth Temperate Zone throwing them iouth- ward. ^ » . • . . : The Amfhifcii, are thofe of the Torrid or middle Zone-, whole noon (hadows fall different ways at different feafons : and becaufe twice in the year the Sun is in their zenith, and their bodies call no fliadow on cither fide, they are alfo called JJcii, Thcfe names are of Greek derivation. , • • .; Mankind are alfo from their different relative fituations, denominated Perieci, Antieciy and Antipodes^ The Perieci are thofe who live in the fame parallel, have the fame latitude and feafons, and the fame pole elevated -, but have oppofite meridians, and confc- quently oppofite day and night. ..,,.,. Antied, are thofe people who have the fame me- ridian but oppofite parallels, equidiflant from the Equator, on contrary fides. Their longitude is the fame, their day and night of the fame length j but they have contrary poles and feafons, Antipodes are fuch whofe parallel and meridian are both oppofite : they have the whole globe between them in diametrical oppolition ; and have contrary poles elevated. Their feet are direfbly oppofed ; and their duy and night, their winter and fummer con- trary to each other. • ' . This fubje<5t cannot properly be difmifled, without; attending a little to the furprifing phsenomena of the flux and reflux of thfe fea ; with the generation of winds : and giving fome general idea of the caufes to which they are owing. Were fl'' i! ii :\ iU JJ TN T R ODU C T I ON. Were the Earth (6 far removed from the influence of the Sun and Moon aa to be without the fpheres of their attra>6bions ; it is not to be doubted, but the Ocean being equatJy prefled by the force of gravity toward the centre of the Earth, would continue every -where in a ftate of pcrfeft ftagnation. But it being dennonftrable that the Sun and Moon have a like principle of gravitation toward their centres, and that the Earth is within the aftivity of their attradionsi it will p^ainly follow, that the equality of the gravi- tation of bodies toward the centre of the Earth, will thereby be difturbe>d : and though the fmall degrees of thefe counteraftions render them imperceptible by any experiments we can make -, yet the Ocean being fluid, and yielding to the lead impulfe, it (hews by its rifing where it is lead prefTed i and where it is moft prefled by its fmking. Now if we fuppofe the force of the Moon's attrac- tion to decreafe, as the fquare pf the diftance from its centre increafes •, we Ihall find that where the Moon is perpendicularly either above or below the Horizon, there the force of gravity muft be mod of all diminilhed *, and that in thofe oppofite parts the Ocean muft neccflarily fwell, by the flowing of the water from thofe parts where the preflure is greateft. If this is rightly comprehended, it follows thence that the Sea, which would otherwife be fpherical, muft, upon the preiTure of the Moon, form itfelf into a fpheroidal or oval figure, whofe longeft dia- meter is where the Moon is vertical, and its (horteft, in the Horizon ; and that by the revolution of the Earth, the Moon being in turn expofed to all fides of it, the oval of the water follows her, occafioning thereby the two floods and ebbs obfcrvablc in each 24I hours; \ ' *^ • . ■ Oa INTRODUCTION. ^^p On this theory, the tides ought to be higheft, di- reftly under and oppofitc to the Moon ; but we find that in open Seas where the water flows freel;, the Moon is generally pad: the Meridian when it is hi»h water there. The reafon is obvious -, the mo- ■ tion of afcent communicated to the water, makes it continue to rife for fome time after the attraif^ion of the Moon declines. Thus much for the general caufe of tides; which- is greatly corroborated by (hewing how naturally it accounts for particular circumilances relating to them. - * r . ■.. ' . 'ij ' ii ' • ' **■* . • ri 7- • f- ,-s. m4* — . 'It*! . r- ■■- V - The fpring-tides upon the new and full Moons, and the neap-tides on the others, are occafioned by the attradtive force of the Sun, confpiring with the Moon at new and full, and producing a tide by their united forces : whereas in the quarters, the Sun raifes the water when the Moon deprefles it, and the contrary -, fo that the tides only hie by the dif- ference of their forces. '• i. That-the influence of the Sun operates no ftronger in this cafe, is owing to the vafl: diftance of the Sun, and the proximity of the Moon. It is alfo to be obferved, that the equinoflial ~ fpring-tides in March and September, or near them, are the higheft, and the neap-tides the loweil: which arifes from the greater agitation of the water, when the fluid fpheroid revolves about the equator, where the centrifugal force is greateft ; as well as from the concurrent adion of the Sun and Moon be- fore mentioned. Whence the Sun and Moon being either conjoined or oppofite in the equinoftial, pro- duce the greateft fpring-tides •, and the fubfequent neap-tides, being produced by the tropical Moon in the quarters, are always the leaft tides : whereas in Vol. 1. D June .'^NJ INTRODUCTION. June and December the fpring-tides, being made by the tropical Sun and Moon, are lefs vigorous, &c. the neap-tides by the equino6Ual Moon, and therefore are the ftronger. Hence it happens that the diffe- rence between the fpring and neap-tides is much lefs confiderable than in March and December. And the reafon why the higheft fpring-tides happen rather before the vernal, and after the autumnal equinoxes, viz, in February and Oftober, than exa6tly upon them, is, becaufe the Sun is nearer the Earth in the winter Moons, and its effedt is therefore at thofe times greater. ; ; . . ■-,. By the motion thus communicated to the Sea by the lunar influence, it would continue to ebb and flow for feveral times, were the Sun and Moon an- nihilated, or their attractive powers wholly de- ftroyed : as we perceive in any velTel of water, which having been agitated, will continue to move for feme time after the veflel has flood ftill-, or as a pendulum^ which after having been put in motion, continues to make feveral vibrations, until the con- tinued a6tlon of gravity has conquered the foreign temporary impulfe. - - •.' . : The tides rife but to fmall heights in open Seas, in proportion to what they do in wide mouthed rivers, which Open to the Sea in the diredion of the current of the tide. For in channels gradually con- trading, the water is accumulated in height by the obllrudion of the banks ; in like manner as a gentle breeze, fcarcely perceived in an open common, be- comes a briflc wind in the contraded channel of a flreet or alley, efpecially if it lies in the diredion of the current. ' The regular courfe of the tides is fo retarded and rltered in its progrefs through fhoals and irregular channels, and by ftriking againft capes and head- ^ lands, g B- I N T R O D U C T I O N; $5 hnds, oppofing themfelves in all diredions ; that in different parts, the tides rife at all diflances of the Moon from the meridians of places. Thus, in the German ocean, the tide propagated when the Moon is three hours paft the Meridian, is 12 hours in its paffage to London bridge ; where it does not arrive until a new tide commences in the ocean. It is ow- ing to this faft, that when the Moon has a North declination, and we might exped the tide at Lon- don to be higheft when the Moon is above the Ho- rizon, we find it to be leaft j and the contrary in her fouthern declination. There are no obfervable tides in Lakes having fmall or no communications with the open Sea ; be- caufe when the Moon is at her grcateft altitude to them, fhe influences every part of them alike, by reafon of their limited fize ; and thus rendering the water equally light, there are no inequalities in its elevation. From this caufe it is that confined Seas, like the Baltic and Mediterranean, have very incon- fiderable fluxes and refluxes -, the inlets by which they communicate with the ocean being fo fmall, that they cannot in fo fliort a time receive or dif- charge a body of water fufficient to elevate or deprefs their furfaces fenfibly. Conformably to what we obferve in the Sea, there is equal reafon to conclude, that much higher tides nre raifed of air in the Atmofphere, than of water in the Sea : it has therefore been wondered at, why the mercury does not fink by the Moon leflening the gravity of the air as (he pafles the Meridian. But in this cafe it is to be confidered, that where the air is rendered lighter from this caufe, a greater quantity is accumulated, until the deficiency of weight be made up by the height of the column. The equi- librium being thus maintained, the barometer can fuffer no alteration by the aerial tides, D 2 This' 26 INTRODUCTION. This fubjeifl naturally leads us to fay fomething of the nature and caufes of wind ; the effeds of which are fo falutary in preventing an unwholfome ftagnation in the air, diflipating noxious exhalations, and difperfing putrid fteams : and prove fo ufeful to man in wafting him over the pathlefs deep. They thus in a wonderful manner promote an intercourfe between thofe diftant nations, which feem by the intervention of vaft Seas to be cut off by nature from any communication with each other. As the air is a fluid, its natural,ftate is reft ; which it endeavours to maintain or retrieve, by auniverfal equilibrium of all its parts. Whenever, therefore, this natural equipoife of the Atmofphere happens by any means to be deftroyed, there neceflarily enfues a motion of all the circumjacent air toward that part to reftore it •, and this motion or current of air is what we call Wind. ..... , . ; Hence with refpe6l to that place where the equi- librium of the air is difturbed, we can conceive the wind may blow from every point of the compafs at one time ; fo that thofe who live northward of it may have a North wind, thofe who live fouthward a South wind, and fo of the reft ; while thofe who live on the fpot where all thefe winds meet and inter- fere, are oppreffed with turbulent boifterous weather, whirlwinds, hurricanes, and tempefts. For fulphu- reous exhalations from the South, torrents of nitre from the North, and aqueous vapours from every part, are there confufed and violently huddled and blended together, and rarely fail to produce vehe- ment commotions of every kind. . Many are the caufes which produce wind by dif- turbing the equipoife of the Atmofphere, the moft general of which arc heat and cold : heat, by rarefy- ing INTRODUCTION. ^1 ing the air, makes it lighter in fome parts than in others -, and cold, by condcnfing it, renders it liea- vier. Thus in all parts over the torrid zone, par- ticularly the equatorial part, the air being rarefied by the direct incidence of the folar rays, is much lighter than other parts more northward and fouth- ward. Therefore, fince thofe parts of the equator which are neareft the Sun, mud be mod rarefied ; which parts, by th? earth's diurnal rotation eaftward, are continually fhifting to the wcllward •, it follows, that the parts of the air which lie to the weftward of the point of the greateft rarefadlion, and by flow- ing toward it meet it, have lefs motion than the air of tht eaftern fide of the faid point, which follows it. The excefs of motion in the eaftern air, would generate a continual eafterly wind, were this all the effect of that rarefadion. But it is alfo to be con- fidered, that as all the equatorial parts of the At- mofphere are greatly rarefied, by the Sun being ver- tical over it twice a year, and never being more th:m 23! degrees diftant on either fide -, and the air about the polar regions greatly condenled by the extreme cold \ this heavier air from each pole, is conftantly flowing toward the equator, to reilore the balance deftroyed by the levity of the air there : hence in this refped alone, a conftant North and South wind would be generated. .3t :.; ^r:i: , ... This motion compounded with the former eafterly wind, accounts for all the plijenomena of the ge- neral trade winds ; which, if the whole furface of the globe was fea, would undoubtedly blow quite round the world, as they are found to do in part, in the Atlantic and Ethiopic oceans. But (as in the cafe of the fea tides before mentioned, where fuch great conti- nents interpofe, and interrupt the continuity of the ocean -, fo in this cafe) fuch chains of high mountains intervene, as occafion great variation in the currents of wind from the general rule. For, if a country lying near D 3 .he ft INTRODUCTION. the Sun, prove to be flat, landy, and low land, as the deferts of Lybia are defcribed to be -, the reflec- tion of the Sun-beams, and the retention thereof in the fand, are incredible ; and the air in fuch place ^vill be exceedingly rarefied : the more cool and denfe air, will therefore rufli in to reftore the equilibrium. This is conjectured to be the caufe why near the (Coaft of Guinea, the wind always fets in upon the Jand, blowing wefterly inftead of eafl;erly ; there being fufficient reafon to believe, that the inland parts of Africa are prodigioufly hot ; fince the northern borders thereof were fo very intemperate, as to make the antients conclude, that all beyond the tropics was uninhabitable by excels of heat. It is alfo from this caufe, that there are fuch con- flant calms, in that part of the fame Ocean called the Rains : for this track being fituated in the middle, between the weftierly winds blowing on the coaft of Guinea, and the eatterly trade-winds blowing to the wefl:ward thereof; the tendency of the air here, is indifferent to either, and fo remains fl:agnant between both. And the weight of the incumbent atmofphere being diminifhcd by the contrary winds blowing from hence, is the reafon that the air does not hold the copious vapour it receives, but lets it fall in fuch frequent rains. But as the cold denfe air by its fuperior weight, prefles through the hot and rarefied ; it is evident this letter muft afcend in a continred ftream, as fall 35 it rarefies ; and that being afcended, it muft; flow from the parts where the greatefl: heat is, and dif- perfe itfelf by a contrary current, to preferve the cquipoife. $o that by a kind of circulation, the North-eafl: trade-wind below, will be attended with a Souch-wefterly wind above ; and the Souch-eaft: beiow, with a North- well: above. .-ir> •.'.*. '■ ' ' ' . This INTRODUCTION. 59 This is proved to be more than mere conjedure by the fiidden change of the wind to the oppofite point, which is often found in pafling the limits of the trade-winds. But that which above all eftablifhes this hypothefis, is the phsenomenon of the Monibons, which though eafily accounted for from the above principles, hardly admits of explication by any other mode of realbning. Such a circulation of air then, being admitted, it is to be confidercd that to the northward of the Indian Ocean, it is every where Land within the la- titude of 30° : viz. Arabia, Perfia, India, &c. which, from the fame caufe, are fubje6t to unfufferable heats, as well as the interior parts of Africa, when the Sun is to the N .th and nearly vertical: but are tem- perate enough when the Sun is removed to the fouthcrn Tropic, from a ridge of mountains at fome dlftance within Land, faid to be frequently covered with fnow in winter -, by which the air mull be greatly chilled in its paflTage. Thus it comes to pafs that the wind from the North eaft, is fometimes hotter and fometimes colder, than that which by this circulation is returned from the South-weft; andofcourfc, the under current of wind is fometimes from the North- caft, and at other time? from the South-weft, The times when thefe winds fet in, fufficiently in- dicate the caufes of them *, this is in April : when tlie Sun begins to warm thefe northern climes, the South-weft Monfoons begin, and blow during the heats until October; when the Sun being retired, and the countries northward growing cooler, while the heat increafes to the South, the North-eaft winds commence and blow all the winter until April agnin. And from the fame principle it muft be, that to the louthward of the Equator, in part of the Indiais Ocean, the North-v/eft winds fuccecd to the South- caft, when the Sun approaches the tropic of Capricorn. D 4 Yv'e '^0 INTRODUCTION. We might now proceed to give the prefcnt re- ceived hypothefes accounting for levcral other phsE- nornena ; as rain, ligiitning, the aurora borealis, and oth r meteors i the properties of magnetifm, the caufcf, of earthquakes ; with many other particulars equally curious : but thefe being rather fubjefls of natural liiliory and philofophy, would occupy too much of our room, and would be digrefiing farther than is necedary in an Introdu6bion to a Colle(5tion of Voyages and Travels. It is hoped, what has al- ready been enlarged upon concerning winds and tides, will not need an apology j as Lhefe phenomena have too general an influence over the marine and Commercial tranfadlions of mankind, and are too curious fubjeds of fpeculatlon in theinrelves, to efcape noiice in a review of the confiitution of the Earth. .; t/ ' ,', V .: ,. .-^ • •■ - ■'■ '■■ ■-.. • .1 . --/ :..-.. -. r ,, -. . Leaving the fcientiEcal Icfs known divifions of the Eartli ; we fhall now, in a comparative view, con- fider the feveral pares of it, under their more ge- nerally known denominations of Europe, Afia, Africa, ^nd America. .; _ -...;. , ;, ♦ < . EURO E is bounded on the North by the Frozen Occan, on the Eaft by Afia, and the rivers Don, Wolg.i, and Oby, on the South by the Mediterra- nean, and on the Weft by the great Atlantic Ocean ; being about 3000 miles in length, and 2500 in bread ih. it is tlie k-aft quarter, but the moft con- fiderable for the temperature of the air; the fruitful- ncfs of the foil ; and the cultivation of the arts and fciences ; but above all, for the prof^flaon of the ChiiiHan religion. It contains the following king- doms and ftates. - :- -;; J;; - ; ..: y .m '' l'^ ■'■'if ■;, t:- 1 INTRODUCTION. EUROPE. 41 vi i\ ^^\ a %• B • 3 w B- • 360 300 3 no ST* • cf. it,> n rt :ro sj n n. 3 -1 • 7P DiiF. of Time from London. 73 f 3 (A F.ngland Scotland Ireland 300 London Edinburgh ublin iVjiks. ♦ « * 270 N. 250 NVV H. ivj. * * • Lutherans 12 aft. Calvinitts 26 aft.! Lutherans Norway Denmark 1000 240 Hoc 3 or 180 ergen Copenhagen 540 N. d8o N E 24bef.jLuthenins qobef.'Lutherans Sweden 500 Stockholm 750 iN h I lobef iLutherms Ruflia 1500 1 100 Peterlburg I 1 40 IN t. 2 4bef.;Ur. church Poland 700 68c Warfaw | 7^0 E. I 24bef.jrapiiis Frulfia 400 160 Berlin '^40 '<- - 59bef.jLutherans Germany 600 i^OO Vienna | 6;;o t. I ^ bef Hapills Holland 160 IOC Amfterdam 150 E. ^ 18 bef Calvin, with ? (;cn. toleratioi.. Flanders 180 150 hJruffels | 180S.H. 1 6 bef i'apifts France 6ooj 50c Paris I 1 60S. 1'. 9 bef. Papifts Spain 70:; !JOO Madrid 690 S. 1 7 aft. h'apilts Portugal ;^oo| ICO Lilboii 840 S w 0^8 aft. [•"apilts Switzerland 260 ior|Bem 420 S. K. 2 8 bef. Jr.lv P-.m Lombardy Several fraall States J Piedmont, Montfcrrat, Milan, Parma, Modeiia, Mantua, Venice, Genoa, Tufcany, &c. Chief Towns are, Turin, Cafal, Milan, Parma, MoJena, Miiuua, Venice, Genoa, Florence. •I'opedom 24c 27c 30c 6cc 38c 40r ic;c Rome 780S. E. {; 2 bef. apills Naples 180 Naples 870 . h. I bef. t'apilts Papifts Hungary 20c uda 780 >. E 1 1 7 bef Danubian ) Provinces 3 i it. Tartary Greece 42c 24c 24C V «^onttan- l tinopie. Caffa Athens 1320S. E. 1500 E. 1120 S. E. 1 5 8 bef. 2 24 bef 1 ^-bef Mahometans with fom< Jews ant Chriftians The 4* INTRODUCTION. The Europeans in general are well made, and tOr lerably fair, except in Spain, where they begin to be fwarthy. In drefs, they arc fond of imitating the French. The Turks wear their beards, turbants, and a long veft tied with a falh. Tlie Turkilh ladies drels much refeiiibles that of the men. • c i The iflands of this quarter arc, in tlie North,—- . Greenland, famous for its whale fifhery. — And Ice- land, in which is the burning mountain Hecja, fup- pofed, by its frequent eruptions, to be the caufe of the northern lights ; it belongs, with the little ifles of Farro, together with thofe of Zealand and Funen, &c. in the Baltic, to the crown of Denmark. — Near Great Britain, are the Shetland ifles, the Weftern ifles, Orkneys, Man, Anglefea, Scilly, Wight, Jerfey, Guernley, fubjefV to the Englifli. — On the Wefl:, are the Azores, nine in number, the chief, St, Michael j St. Maria, Tercera, and Graciofia ; which trade in wine and fugar j and all belong to the king of Portugal. — In the Mediterranean Sea are Yvica, Majorca, be- longing to Spain.' — Minorca to England j and Cor- iica fl:ruggling for independency. — Sardinia, a king- dom of itfelf. Sicily belonging to the king of Naples, in which is the burning mountain Etna.' ^alta belonging to its own governor, called the Grand Mafl:er. Corfu, Cephalonia, and Zant, fub- jed to the Venetians.— — Cyprus, Candia, Rhodes, Patmos, and the cluftcr of fniall ones in jhp Archi- pelago, belonging to the Turks, ^ ; The principal mountains in this part of the world are the Do'phrino Hills, between Sweden and Nor- way;— the Hyperborican Mountains in the north part of Mufcovy •, — the Caparthian mountains in the luuth part of Poland ; — the Pyrcnean hills between Spain and i'Vance i— the Alps between Italy and Germany ;— the Appcnine hills dividing Italy into Eail and Well j VcfuviuSj a remarkable burning mountaii) ■■■i* ■^i? r. • •1 e, and to- 1 '' begin to imitating 1 , turbants. kilh ladies i ■ifl J r North,— ^H And Jce- ecja, fup. e caufe of "'IB little ifles id Funen, c— Near V ^lern ifles. » Jerfey, T^H Wefl:, are M'^^B Michael j "^9 lein wine rtugal. — ^n 3rca, be- and Cor- » a king- king of '^H tna. he Grand It, fub- Rhodes, e Archi. -. < ^e world nd Nor- e north s in the between aly and aly into burning INTRODUCTION. 4i mountain near Naples -, — the Peak in England ; — Plinlimmon in Wales j — and Grampian and Cheviot hills in Scotland. In this quarter, the mod noted rivers are, the Thames, Severn, and Ilumber, in England -, — Forth, Tay, and Tweed, in Scotland; — Shannon, Boyn, and Barrow, in Ireland •, — Rhine, Elbe, and Oder, in Germany ; — Weilel, Ncefter, and Neeper, in Poland j — Tayo and Duero in Portugal ; — the Ebro and Guadalquiver in Spain ; — Tiber and Po in Italy; — Don, Wolga, and Dwina, inRuflia; — Seine, Loire, Rhone, and Garonne, in France ; and the Danube, which runs all through Germany, Hun- gary, Turky in Europe, and empties itlclf into the Black Sea. ASIA lies eaft of Europe, is about 4800 miles long, and 4300 broad, bounded on the North by the Frozen Ocean, by the Pacific on the Eaft, by the Red Sea on the Weft, and the Indian Ocean on the South. In this quarter ftood the temple of Diana, at Ephefus in Natolia, burnt the night Alexander the Great was born. Near to that ftood the famous city Troy, totally deftroyed by the Greeks, 1200 years before Chrift. Here alfo ftood the feven churches mentioned by St. John in the Revelations, Alio Tyre and Sydon, on the coaft of the Holy Land, once vaft cities of trade, but now the habitation of a few fifliermen.^-Likewife Sodom and Gomorrah, laro-e cities recorded to have been deftroyed by fire from heaven for their wickednefs. — Alfo Nineveh and Ba- bylon, great cities in Mefapotamia, near Bagdad, now the habitation of only wild creatures. In the Holy Land ftood the famous city and temple of Jeru- falem, deftroyed by Vefpafian about 70 years after Chrift. This was the theatre of almoft every adion recorded in the facred Scriptures. It is divided into many principal regions, whofe names, extent, chief titiesj &c. are as in the following table. ? If INTRODUCTION. \ ■ f»l Uj !-.;■■ G .1 -.0 >u E with hrif- • c .*u an Oh c r» c C o 'So « s ",1 2 c rt 2 ^ bI ^•^ •^ .^ li aL -ii X{ u - 2 •« «) in .::^ e s c :2 -*-« S J3 « «»7 71 F « ~ re (3 f« ra r; re ^, '^ *.' 1 : (4 •:; bfl 00 ft<. ft/. 1"! l*; b b. •* r-5 • • 'J J ^ r* — - 1 p «3 *: u_' u: '^: • '..;-« . • , • '-•-. u: • u: H-S U ri cj j:, .0 J5 xj i X Xi a il ^ u ^ c ^-4 rh MD -+- >o -t' t4 •1 la vO -i (.' "« T,)- tv N Mi. "^ ' '"i 1 # t*^ N ■*• i/> 't ».« D.fF. from •»*-CO lr\ •r) I - »/■ f< M N M ».< N »1 rr 1-''.. . G C • • "C o re "V) .d W UJ • • • A i.' :.:j • r! yj JO w • • <"> (^ '. 00 CO r^ N •+ '* •*• vO N - ^ |.>c/ rf, C^ ( xl- ..1 'JO '^^ M 'jO o« < N "^ »«^ N rt- r<-; ir rl N •^ •>4 ** M P4 *« « ►-H • t D a CO "2 _ c 0/. E E 'X) < IS Chynian Tibet Samerca C 1> 4.. 2 .C (J Q. V .■a a 0Q_ -a CM re 1^ 1- S u. M-4 ,1) ^-. tjo *• • t; ^3 c ."^ •£ CJ 1» ^ »*. -= .t: J3 «» " E 3 :^ c 8 00 * -o c ^4 » ..J «-« I./ w (J N N r*^ t<^ tn c »; "" •" *^ # ea Bounds irts are u ch Power 1 his Conqi he can. m c -I c C I- so • bO t}- 6 N N i^. U-1 cr ij " jj » • m i- w _2 0< w C « — N t-i - •-^ * uJ :>• • 4.^ .« -f. c c: -r^ ^c c «> ^ •* «. c .^^ ?: Ts rt ^ £ re <9 52; R « S ^ rt tr ;T- ' T J re u c E Ic C'l -5 V- ■« re '0 re re u a 8 U_ s_ c u i. '/. 5- 2 as "v-" -/JBjjBj;, •njv ui Xajanj, The -i 'I o o ^\% O • — 1 >T> c a; E .T o h/ o i> 5 8 ■ p « « The INTRODUCTION. 45 The Turks, Perfians, Moguls, and Chinefe, arc of good Ihapc and complexion : The men wear tur- bancs, veils, and flijipcrs •, thq women drefs much like the men, only tlicy wear a lliffcncd cap like a mitre, and their hair down. The Mogul laJics arc fond of bracelets on their arms and legs ; rings on their fingers and toes ; jewels in their nofcs i a^d .,^ pendants in their ears : and the Chinefe ladies ale re- markable for their little feet i and the gentlemen for -^ .»'* long nails. In Siam, Pegu, &c. the inhabitants are tawney, and features coarfe. The men wear a piece of cloth wrapped round their waiil:, and pull their beards (as the Chinefe and Tartars do) up by the root. The women have, befide the piece about t'icir waift, another thrown round their ireafls and .noulders, leaving the reft of the body bare. The commoa people near the fea go almoft nakec!. ; • . ^ The iflands in Afia are thofe of Japan, r . Japan itfelf, Tonfa and Bongo, — alfo Formofa, — ; le Balhee ifles, veryfmall — Aynan and Macco -The Ladro. t: ifles, the chief Guam and Tinian.- -Tne Philippine ifles 1 1,000 in number, chiefly fmall ones ; the prin- cipal are Luconia, Mindanao, and T'indaye. — The Moluccas or Clove iflands, the chief Gilolo, Ceram, MacafTar, Amboyna, and Banda, whciC tlie nutmegs grow.— The Sunda ifles, Borneo, Java, and Suma- tra, &c. — The Andaman and Nicobar ifles, all fmall. The Maldives, many thoufands very fmall. in the Indian Sea — and Ceylon, or fine Cinnamon ifle, near the coafl: of Coroman del. Moft of thefc iflands lying near or under the Line, afford great quantities of fugar and fpice, which the Dutch trade with to all parts of the world. The principal rivers in this quarter are the Tygris, and Euphrates, between Arabia and Perfia. — Tobol and Oby in Tartary. —Indus in the Mogul's empire. Ganges # INTRODUCTION. —Ganges in Indin, — the Hoambo or Yellow river irt the North ; and the river Tay, that runs by Canton, f in the South of China. " . Mr' The chief mountains here are, Ararat, near the Cafpian Sea, on which the ark is recorded to have ^ re^ed after the flood. — Horeb and Sinai in Arabia.— , * Lebanon in the Holy Land. — Mount Taurus running ^*l||from Eaft to Weft of all Afia. — Imaus, in Tartary, — CaucafTus between Tartary and the Great Mogurs empire •, — and the Naugracut mountains in Tibet. AFRICA is the third quarter, fituated to the South of Europe, and furrounded on all fides by the Sea, ex- cept a narrow neck of land about 60 miles over (called the Ifthmus of Suez) which joins it to Afia, at the top of the Red Sea. This country is about 4300 miles long, and 4200 broad, and lies chiefly in the Torrid Zone -, the Equator running through the middle of it. Here we find a race of people quite black, having flat nofes, thick lips, and hair like wool. This quarter is generally divided as in the following table. INTRODUCTION*. i . u • '; r^i f .4 , AFRICA. 47 Nations. n 3 • • Chief City. Dift. & Bearing from London. DiiT. of Time from London. 1 Religions. IVlorocco Algiers Tunis Tripoli Barca t;co '600 400 700 400 48c 400 250 240 1 300 Fez Algiers Tunis Tripoli Tolemeta lobob. 920 S. 990 S.F,. 1260S. Iv 1440S E 24 aft. tVlahoiueiaiu I3bef MahoInctan^ 3qbL'f. Mahometan; 56bef. Mahouietani 1 26bcf. .VJahcnutan' tpypt 6co: 2i;o Grand Cairo ic)zo6.1i.. 2 i2iei. iVlaiiuiJiciari! biledulgerid 2^co. 350 Dara j^-o;; vS. 32 dU. i'agans Zaara 2400' 660 rcgella 1H40 .^. 24 aft, i'agaii' Negroland 2200i 84c iVIadinga 2;,coS. 38 ,11 1. Pagans Guinea I80OJ ^60 Benin 2 700 6. 2ob>;t.ii'ag;Mis Nubia 94c 600 Soc iNubia 24i8S.li. 2 l2bcf.i»VJah. .\' 1' .u Abydinia 900 Goiidar 2S8aS. E 2 20bet.iv^linitiars A hex q.io 131 Ooncala 3q8oS. }', 2 36bef.l»>,hril.Jcrao. The Mitliik- H-urs, called Lowtr Ethiopia, ;iie very lit'le known to the EuiopcafiF. | Loango j 4101 3CC Loango 3300 >. 4j.oer. Ctinl. l\ I'ag. Congo 1 q^o 4.20 250 I He :>r. Salvador 34$o>. 1 tx-t »^lirir..S, 1 a;^. Anoola j 360 Lnnndo 3-<;oS. ; 8 ref. CUfi! .^l'a^. Bengiifi,'! 470 BeiuMieia ^oco S. sS t-.ef.!i*aaans Mataman 4;ol 24- No 'Towns * * • * " ' jpa-aii. Ajan 900 300 rirava 3-0^ S 1'. 2 40 Vat 'I'agai.s j Zanguebar 1400 to-, 66c 1.CC Vieliiica or iVIo7amb'qu( 4440 S.E 1 2 38bct.|Pagans Monomotapa 9O0 iVlonomotaoa |+:;oo .S. 1 lb L\-t.lf';)L::n:s ;VJonemugi 900 Chicova 4260 vS. I 441h-F Pagans yotola 1 480 Sofoia 4(;c-S. K. 2 i.Shef- t\nnan-- TerradeNat. 6c 3s' No I'ovvns # • » •» • » j^.i{/.•l^^ Cattariaor 7 Hottentots j 780' 66c ~ apcof gooc Hope 5 2CO vS. I 4bcr. Pagans Alonrr INTRODUCTION. Along the coafts of the Mediterranean, in Egypt, Biledulgerid, and Zaara, the people are of a tawncy complexion, and drefs like the Turks : but in all other parts of this quarter, the inhabitants are black. The better fort of negroes wear thin vefts and white caps, but the poor go almoft naked, having only a fmall piece of Ikin, or coarfe fluff, wrapped about their waift. The poor Hottentots, daubed over with greafe and foot, and having their arms, legs, and neck wrapped round with the raw guts of beafts, make a moil defpicable and nafly appearance* The iflands of this quarter are, Madagafcar the largeft •, the inhabitants black, wild, favage, naked, and under no particular governor. The iflands of Cape Verde, lo in number. St. Vincent, St. Ni- cholas, Lucia, Antonia, Sal, Bonavifta, Jago, Mayo, Bravo, and Fuego, all fubjedl: to the Portuguefe. —The Canary iflands, 14 in number, the chief, Teneriff, Ferro, and Canary, belonging to the crown of Spain. The Madeira, noted for excellent wine, fubjed to the Portuguefe. The Guinea ifles, as Princes, Fo, Annobon, Thomas, Matthew, &c. belonging to the Portuguefe. And the ifles Afcenfion and St. Helena belonging to the Englifli. The principal mountains here are, the Lybian mountain, between Zaara and Egypt ; — Mount Atlas, between Barbary and Biledulgerid, which gives name to the neighbouring ocean, called the Atlantic Ocean. The mountains of the Moon in Ethiopia, near the empire of Monemugi. And the Pico or Peak, in Teneriff, one of the Canary ifles, in form of a fugar loaf, kippered to be the highefl: in- the world, and may be feen 40 leagues diftant. The mofl: noted rivers here, are the Nile in Nubia and Egypt : The Niger running through all Ne- o s H O iz; p2 ;, o J .s 4i c4 CQ CU • CO -a a c -0 C bA C Oi. CO ^- u u c 2 (14 DiiF. of Time from London. • (« o 1 «i ; • • o • 10 • • •a SO • Dift. and Bearing from London. • • z O O ON '4- • Z, o « \o CO • • so r>. c< • • Z • so U ■ «-• • O u *>< • • CO • c 3 3 bO 3 < • CO (U V) '3 l-l c cq • CQ o o NO • U C g u c p CO O • lU c s >-> u c 3 tfl •T3 C 3 vO CO CO i o o o d CO QO CO CX3 CO M • c .2 rt z V. C a. S8 a i^ rt -0 -0 B C TO '3 C/1 .0 H '"r The INTRODUCTION. S* The Britifh colonies or plantations ure, i. Nova- Scotia, the chief town Halifax.— -—2. New Eng- knd, the chief town Bofton. 3. New York, the chief town New York. 4. New Jerfey, the chief town Elizabeth Town. 5. Penfilvania, the chief town Philadelphia. 6. Maryland, the chief town Baltinfiore. 7. Virginia, the chief town James Town.—— 8. Carolina, the chief town Charles Town. And 9. Georgia, whofe chief town is the Savannah. - > n , ■ ;y ■ r*' ' *'iif h ii... 'y.t' ■ i-- The Indians here are generally of a brown com- plexion ; the few that are white ftain themfelves of a copper or red colour, ani fome with ftreaks of blue. They are dexterous with their bows and ar- rows ; and very fond of adorning themfelves with firings of beads and Ihells about their necks, with rings and plates in their ears and nofes, and pull their beards up by the roots. They go naked in the fummer, but in the winter cover themfelves with the fkins of bealls taken in hunting, which is their chief employ. The principal illands arS,Newfoundland, belonging to the Englifli, famous for its fiihery. —Bermudas or Summer Illes, the property of Great Britain. — Cape Breton, Anticofti, and St. John's, belonging to the Englifli. — The Bahama Ifles, (many in num- ber, but Providence only inhabited) belonging to the E^ngliih. — The Antilles, as Cuba, Hifpaniola, and I'orto Rico, belonging to Spain, and Jamaica to the Englifli. The Carribbe Ifles, the chief St. Chrif- tophers, Anguila, Aniigua, Barbadoes, and the Grenades, belong to the Englifli. — St. Martin, Bar- tholomew, Guadalupe, Marigalante, Martinico, belonging to the French. Euftatia and Saba, belonging to the Dutch, and St. Thomas to the J)aiies. Thefe iilands produce vaft quantities of E 2 fugar p INTRODUCTION. fugar (in planting of which thoufands of negroes are employed) tobacco, pepper, yams, indigo, ginger, guirs, dying-woods, cocoa, cotton, par- rots, fifh, turtles, and lignum vitas. The chief mountains here are, the Apalachean, between Carolina and Louifiana. But in the North are vaft unknown mountains perpetually covered with fnow, from whence the winds blowing the greateft part of the year, thefe countries become much colder than thofe in Europe in the fame lati- tude. . The moft remarkable rivers are, St. Laurence, dividing the Englifh plantations from Canada, and falling into the gulph of its own name.— -The Mifiiflippi, and the Ohio, in Louifiana, and the river North in New Mexico, which laft empty them- felves into the Gulf of Mexico, v <- ; '< ;-^ > xi at' " m i . X ■ I'^-i -t'l. »!' '. . .jt >'.''.'.' .: 4.^.;v ;,M .' ■. - ,« <.ri . . ,. ^. ! f i , f 1 ■. p- f < • ' t'r^:('..'Ui \. ■ -'--;. * ■ w 1 • .:: "i \ ..:rn;-'* T ' -, J. . T . , ... .. s In INTRODUCTION. 53 •X't In u •■ C o c < U ►— • H O CO I: i \ JB O (A s en 2 •— > fcO -o ^rf • C § -o u ^ c La "S -s bO J5 PQ ^m c 3 C e 4-* • *rt • ^* 4-i w • ^4 •^^ u w cs :3 Ui w (4 a. C/5 ex CO <2 CO a, CO O 1 ej • 4i* Tim ondon PQ u • (4 o • • • • '^ ^ oo rh • o Th Tf- N vO V, CO »o Qvt! o 4^ C bO eariii don • • • c • ?=■ • • > 4.J 4-< o '^ o 1^ o c/5 o a, 2 3 w C/3 O C/3 O co' o CO o c TS o o VO o so 4-i 3 Th *o 0) CO so VO so ^ • - "is J3 Q 4-> ■lT • »-( o c o c c " 5 "= La o -a a .2 O c U s E 2 s > en • o. E < O 1—4 o o u 4^ MVM •4J CO 4-t CO a. M o J3 «J o c4 o o 3 o o o o «•• o o -Q oo Q o o v> 4> l^ vO '«*■ r^ M so •o La f\ p^ La OQ C9 'S ■^i* ^ c! <« 41^ o o 3 o o o O Oa W) o o O oo o o o CO c -^ o o tS) J2 t>. o u-» CH u u J « M « M M J3 La • CO c B > c 5^ "^ bi) b02 :z; a O 5^ tS 3 bO • aa 2 S La V b. E '3 C3 La Lc « .. h < O PQ u IT' o Es Th« ^ INTRODUCTION. The Indians are generally of a good fizc, and well made ; down to the tropic of Capricorn they are of a brown or copper complexion, but farther foiith tolerably fair. They have little idea of religion. They have many odd cuftoms •, go for the mod part naked, but paint themfelves of various colours •, many of them wear large rings in their ears, chains of fhells about their necks and glittering ftones or plates on their lip and jiofes, permitting no hair to grow upon their chins. They ufe bows and arrows, ftroll about and live by fifhing and hunting, as they do in the northern parts. ' ^ The iQands here are St. Catherines and Trinidad, off the coaft of Brafil. — Chiloe and Juan Fernan- des, near Chili, and the large iQand Terra Del Fuego, (fo called on account of its volcanoes or burning mountains) at the South of Magellan ica •, thefe all belong to Spain.— There are many more iflands fcattered about the Great South-Sea, but all uninhabited, and of no great account. The chief mountains are, St. Martha in Terra Firma: the Andes, which are faid to be the higheft in the world : their tops are always covered with fnow ; and the cold fo intenfe, that numbers have perilhed in going over them ; and others have loft their fingers and toes, and been lamed for ever. Ko bc-aft of any kind is found upon them. They run through the whole length of South America. The moft remarkable rivers are, Oronoko, where the South Sea trade begins ; — the vaft river Amazon in Amazonia, and Riode la Plata, or the river Plate, in Paraguay. w INTRODUCTION; Of the lefs-known Parts of the World. 'is IN the North, near the Pole, are, — Nova Zembla —Greenland and Groenland. The inhabitants are very few, and thefe favage ; low in ftature, and of an ugly mien. They live upon the flefh of whales, bears, foxes, rain-deer, and go muffled up in Ikins, the hairy fide next their bodies. The Sun does not appear in thefe parts for three or four months toge- ther in the winter, and then the cold is fometimes fo intenfe as to freeze brandy. And in the iummer, he fhines as many months continually upon them, which makes the heat as troublefome. Here alfo lie —New Britain — New North Wales — New Den- mark, &c. in America and Ycfdo, and Kamtf- chatka, in Afia, all very little known. Below the Molucca ifles in Afia — are New Guinea —Carpentaria— New Holland — Dieman*s Land and a little further. New Zealand, regions difco- vered by the Dutch and Englifti about the middle of laft century. Our knowledge of them is very im perfect ; the natives are faid to be wild, favage, black, and go naked. . » It is generally believed that there are many large tracts of land towards the South Pole, of which at prefcnt we know nothing. ^he Difference of the Miles in feveral Countries is very great \ but it will be ufeful to remember^ nat The Englifti, Italian, and Tyrkilh, are nearly the fame. The Scotch and Irilh Miles are about i j- Englifti. The German, Danifti, Dutch, and Polifti, are about 4 Englifti. 1 ^ * -■' ^ ' ^• , E 4 The S6 INTRODUCTION. The Swedifh is about 5 Englifh. ThcJSpanilh is about 9A Knglifh. - ^- 'J'hc Hungarian is about 6 EnL;lifn. r.; 'J he RulTiun is about -J Englifh. * The Pcrfian, Arabian, and Egyptian, arc about 3 .Enj;^lifh. ../^i ^;^v , The Indian is almoft 3 Englifh. .::■ r • ! ^y '' ,' The Japan is about halt" a quarter of an Englifh mile. .. r ; . The French Icaojue i--^ 2 of our nnlles. i • 1 he Englifh league is 3 of our miles. .. • 4 7 As a concUifion we will only add a few explana- tions ; which, though the generality of our readci'S cannot be fuppofed to necJ, this lntrodu6lion might perhaps by fomc be thought dclicient, if they were omitted. ' The Earth being a globe, a Map of the whole Eartlj mu'l .neceifanly confift of two parts i one half iMily being vifible to one view of it : this Map exhi- l)itj therefore two hemifpheres -, as if the globe had been divided in the plane of the firit meridian. Accordingly in an univerlal Map, the right hand circle ihews the old world, containing Europe, Afia and Africa -, and the left hand circle contains the new world, or North and South America. Upon this Map are marked the circles correlponding to thole on the Sphere ; namely the I^lquinodtial Line, the two Tropics, and the two Polar Circles •, all which crofs the Map from Eafl to Weft. Parallels of Eatitiidi', and Meridians, a^e drawn over the face of the Map at 10 degrees diflance, to afcertain the relative fituation of places. . , Particular Maps, as being part of this general Map, rc.tain tiie Meridians and Parallels of Latitude belonging to the rcrptftive places, drawn larger or fmaller as the fizc of the paper and fcale will at^- . .: fnit i INTRODUCTION. 57 mit ; and fuch Maps are drawn and proportioned to fcalcs corrcfponding to their degrees of latitude. , It is to be noted, that in all Maps, the North is at the top, the South at the bottom, the Eaftonthe right hand, and the Weft on the left : or if it Ihould be othcrwife, it is always cxprcfled in words at the fides ; or by a mariner's compafs, in which the fleur dc lys always points to the North. Degrees of Latitude are marked on the Eaft and Weft: lidcs of the Map j Degrees of Lorvgitude on the North and South fides, that is, on the top and bottom ; to which the Parallels of 1 ,;uitude, and Meridians or Circles of Longitude, which crofs each other over the tace of the Map, correfpond. , The thick fiiadowed lines in Maps denote Seacoafts ; the couries of rivers are fhewcd by thick fcrpentine lines, and roads, by fmall double lines. Divifions of countries arc diltinguilhed by large dotted lines ; and fubdivifions into provinces, by fmaller : forefts arc denoted by trees j mountains by fhadowed emi- nences i fand banks by dotted beds ; marfhes by fhadowid beds •, and lakes by inland fhadowed coafts, like the common Sea coafts. ^ .^ More minute particulars are exprefTed at the plea- fure of the Geo.Tapher, who generally gives an ex- planation of arbitrary figns and marks, at fome va- cant corner of the Map. » Explanation of nominal 7'erms, ufed in Geography, A Continent^ is a large extent of country, the connexion of which is not broken by the interpofition of feas. The known world is ufually divided into two grand Continents j the one comprehending Eu- . > :. • . . .,. : . i. .... rope, ^ INTRODUCTION. • rope, Afia, and Africa -, artd the other including the two Americas, North and Sojuth. 4 * An JJlandy is a track of land encompaflcd with ivatcr, which cuts it off from any communication with the main land. Such are Great Britain, Ire- land, Minorca, Madagafcar, Borneo, and an infinity of others. ..; > '■ . 0! :.! r^ -^ LV:. vie uil i ^ An Archipelago, denotes a clufter of fmall iflands \ but is more peculiarly appropriated to a number of iflands in the Egean Sea, between the coafts of Greece and Afia. ^' A PeninfMln (quaji pene infula, or almoft an ifland) or Cheribnellis, (from the Greek of the fame im- port) is a part of dry land almoft furrounded by water •, but connected to the main land, by a nar- row neck of land. Such is the Morea in Greece. • " An TJlkmusy is a narrow neck of land, conneft- ing a peninfula to the continent : as that of Darien, which preferves the communication, by land, be- tween North and South America-, and that of Co- rinth, which joins the Morea to the reft of Greece. A Promontory^ is a high point of land ftretching out into the Sea •, the extremity of which is ufually called a Cape, ,- A Volcano is a burning mountain, a vent to fub- terranean fires, which makes occafional eruptions of fire, calcined minerals, and boiling over with ful- phureous torrents. Such are Mounts ^tna in Sicily, Vcfuvius near Naples, Hecla in Iceland, &c. *' The Ocean is a colledive name for that vaft Sea which encompafles the whole Earth, and which ob- 'tains different names in different parts; as the Northern INTRODUCTION. 59 Northern Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, &c. . ; Some parts of the Ocean nm up into the land, cither through narrow channels, or wide mouths % the former are denominated Seas $ as the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, &c. the latter arc called Gulphs ; as the gulph of Bothnia, the Gulph of Finland, the Gulph of Venice, &c. A Bay is an arm or bafon of Sea, entering fomc- what within land ; a kind of leflcr gulph. The largcft and moft noted Bays in the world, are thofc of Bengal, Panama, Bifcay, with many others. A Sirait is a narrow arm or channel communicat- ing between two feas ; or a paflage between two iflands, or lands. Such are the Straits of Gibraltar, of Magellan, the Hellefpont, &c. A Harbour is generally ufed for the bottom of a bay, or the mouth of a large river, fheltered from winds, and frequently fecured with a mole, and booms, where fliips may lie fecurely at anchor. A Road denotes a convenient place for anchorage,' at fome diftance from fhore, where veflels ufually wait for winds to carry them out to fea, or for tides to carry them into harbour. .S■} t^KilJvu :i.Lirii» Vi f ji'mJ^M- The FIRST VOYAGE of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. !...-. HOWEVER mankind differ in- manners and modes of thinking, when diftant ages and nations remote from each other, are com- pared together; the inventors of ufcful arts, and the difcoverers of unknown countries, have feidom failed of receiving that tribute of honour which is due to diftinguifhed abiHties. The name of Bacchus was firft celebrated, and has been delivered down to us as a deity, on account of his Indian expeditions ; and becaufe he penetrated farther than any man was ever known to have done before. The Egyptians, who were with reafon cdeemed the wifeft people of antiquity, fmce almoft all the fciences travelled into this part of the world from thence, paid the higheft tribute of praife to fuch of their monarchs as were fuppofed to have conquered the Eaft; and to have extended their empire over countries where, before that time, no vidorious armies had ever come. It was for the fame caule that the Tyrian Hercules was fo much magnified by his countrymen ; and it was the glory which thofe heroes had acquired, that prompted I6i THE FIRST VOYAGE prompted Alexander, the moft ambitious and daring of the Greeks, to undertake his famous expedition againft the Indians, that he might not fall (hort of any whofe names were recorded in hiftory. This vanity of his tranfported him to fuch a degree, that though, after the ruin of the Perfian empire, he efteemed himfelf the firft of men •, yet, on his framing the projc6t of invading India, he expeded to be efteemed fomewhat more than man. In fuc- ceeding times, we find this humour far from being ■worn out, fince even the Romans, who, if not a wifer, were moft certainly a more moderate people than the Greeks, regarded the invafion of Britain by Julius Csefar, as the riioft glorious of his ac- tions, and that which redounded moft to the ho- nour of their empire. Upon the fame principle the famous emperor Trajan was fo extremely defirous of emulating the example of Alexander, and carrying the terror of the Roman arms into countries which their ancef- tors never knew. But, the notion of pufhing con- quefts in this manner, however it may dazzle the eyes of the admiring multitude, carries in it no- thing fo truly noble as the projeft of difcovering countries far removed from other parts of the world by vaft tracks of fea •, and rendering them mutually ufeful by their refpe(5live productions : and though in purfuing this train of reflexions with reference to the difcovery of America, it is irjpoflible not to be checked on recolleCling the horrid pious butcheries acted by the avaritious Spaniards among innocent nations curfed with the arrival of fuch internal mif- fionaries j yet it is hoped the extenfion of commerce, manufactures, and knowledge of every kind, among the colonifts and natives of the northern parts of that vaft continent, and that glorious fpirit of free- dom which breathes in the provincial aflemblies, and promifes a growth of ftrenQ:th and profperity, the utmoft excenfion of which it is ii-npoflible to fore- fee 5 it is hoped this Britifti contraft to Spanifh mif- . - ^ 4 taken OF COLUMBUS. ffj taken policy, may, in its confequences, difpofe the future generations of mankind, for the credit of humanity, to forget the miferies fuffered by the paft. But to return ffOfli this ajmoft unavoidable digreffion. ..{. • '..ri 'srli .-..,. .i aV:ncj '"( 4 The antients were uflder an abfolute incapacity of making great difcoveries by fea for many reafons, but particularly becaufe they had no juft notion of the figure of the earth ; they were very indifferent aftronomers, efpecially with regard to the pra(5lical part of til at fcience •, and were able to make no voyages of confequence for want of knowing the v/onderful directive property of the loadllonc. But the great imperfection of the 'antient naviga* ti'^n was the not being able to folve that neceflary problem, the finding in any place the four cardinal points, andfuch intermediate ones as were neceffary; without doing which, it was fimply impoffible to fail far : they therefore durft not truft themlelves into the wide ocean, but coafted only along the Ihores, that they might by fome figns know where they were. In the day-time indeed they were able to find the North and South, or a meridian line, by the Sun's rifing and fetting -, befide which they had three other methods, i . By the liars at night, par- ticularly the Little Bear, and the ftar in its tail, cal- led the Pole Star, which was much famed with an- tiquity, and ferved to fliew them the North, and thereby all other points. For, turning their face to it, the Eaft was on the right, the Weil on the left, and the South behind ; and they had a circle with the points on it -, and, bringing the North and South point to the meridian line, the other points were feen at once. Another method they had was by knowing the fituation of the (hores, and of one pro- montory from another : for when one point was thus known, either from the maps, or by obfervation and experience, they could in failing find the relt. But then they could not go far from the fliores, which direded them as to theie points •, as they could if+ TH'E" J'IRST VOYAGE ' ? { could not at all times ufc the fun and ftars for that end. A third method they ufed was by obferving the points they had run in ; for knowing how they firft direfted the (hip, and how much they turned again their courfe from that point, they knew the other points. From whence- the reafon appears of their imperfedl and dangerous failing •, viz. their not knowing the points in the wide ocean, fo as to tell how to fleer. This third metlu)d, by obferving the fhip's courfe, is of no ufe when the fhip is turned to a great many points by tlie violence of the winds and waves. Such were their methods of finding the meridian lines, which were fo imperfect, that they durft never truft themfelves in the valt ocean ; it is no wonder therefore that they never knew America. The application of the properties of magnetifm to the conftrudion of the compafs had brought about confiderable changes in the art of navigation, before any attempt was made to difcover new coun- tries by failing weftward ; for there were great diffi- culties to be overcome, before any defign. of that fort could be accomplilhed. The vefleis in ufe at thofe times were very unfit for long voyages, in point of form, capacity, and ftrength. The fea- men had very little experience, were naturally in- clined to coalting, and knew not enough of their art to be clearly fatisfied what could, or what could not, be performed by it. Add to all this, that their fkill confifted rather in praftifing what they had feen be- fore, than in the knowledge of any fettled principle of fcience, capable of diredling them in any extra- ordinary cafes that might happen in time to come. Their obfervations were far from being exa6t •, partly from the meannefs of th-^ir inftruments, and'partly from the narrownefs of their notions about the ule of them. •■<..--. ■'>.. : ■'•'..,..-;? i^.^u )c-ivj*iw.'! Neverthelefs, many years before the voyages of Columbus, and under all the difadvantages before- mentioned, a difcovery of America is fuppofed to have been made by fomc adventurers from this iQand j id by OF COLUMBUS. 65 ifland ; if any claim can now be made to a difcovery by perfons who were themfelves totally lolt. The ftory however, as it is the earlieft in point of time, feems to merit a relation as well as any other. It aflerts that Madoc, prince of Wales, was the firft difcoverer of America, and the detail of his expedi* tion runs thus. He flouriftied in the twelfth cen- tury, and was fon of Owen Guynneth, prince of North Wales; his brcJiren raifing a civil war about the divifion of his father's dominions, he chole rather to go to fea with a few of his friends, and ieek out new habitations, than run the hazard of what might happen in this difpute. Accordingly, about the year 1 1 70, (leering due Weft, and leaving Ireland on the North, he came to an unknown country ; where he fettled a colony ; and, returning thence into Wales, carried a fecond fupply of people^ but was never heard of more. That the country he went to was really America, is more, perhaps, than can be proved ; but that this tale was invented after the difcovery of that country, on purpofe to fel up a prior title, h moft certainly falfe. Meredith ap Rees, who died in 14.77, and was a famous Welch poet, compofed an ode in ho- nour of this Madoc, wherein was contained an ac- count of his difcoveries. Now as this was feveral years before Columbus made his firft voyage, we may be fure that this was really a Britifii tradition, and no tale of late contrivance. Others again have endeavoured to prove that it was not America, but Groenland, to which our Welch prince failed. In proof of which they have obferved that this country was well known in the ninth and tenth centuries, though it was afterward loft. But neither does this ftory anfwer that pur- pofe •, for, it is evident, the courfe does by no mean si agree with it ; fince, if he had failed to that country, he could not have left Ireland to the Norrh. In a • very ingenious difcourfe upon this fubiedt, it is wsrgrefted, that prince Madoc landed in fome Dar: \Ql. I Qf 66 THE FIRST VOYAGE of Florida ♦, that, in proccfs of time, the colony he iplantcd there proceeded round by land, and reached the northern parts of Mexico, which country they conquered, and were thofc foreign anceftors of the McxicaiiS, of whom we have heard fo much from the Spanifli writers that have recorded the adven- tures of Cortes. To jlrcngthen which fuppofition it is alTcrted, that feveral Britiih words have been difcovcrcd in the old Mexican language. All this hov^eVvT can be little more than mere conjcdlure, to which there are no bounds when once indulged J but the probability of his failing or be- ing driven to fume part of America, may neverthe- lei's be very readily admitted : and this probability is not by any means difcredited by no certain traces of them being found, on our bettei acquaintance v/irh the new world. In thofe unlettered ages, be- fore tiie invention of t!ic compafs, before the inven- tion of jM-intin^T, and before the invention of gun- powder, the Welch could fcarceiy t)e more civilized than the Americans they are fuppoied to have found out ; and had very ttw advantages of any kind to boail over them. Prince Madoc can hardly be ima- gined to have taken any great number of men with him in thofe early days of navigation ; and if his men incorporated with rlie natives,, and difperfed,, there is no wonder that the memory of their arrival fhould have worn away, where no written records iubfiRee: : whereas if the natives dcfbroyed them, ti.erc was a (liorter period put to their memories akogecher. Add to which, that it is extrcnieiy prob- able Miuioc Height be call: away in his fecond voyage j or not be able to ileer back to his new colony. In cither Cvifc both the diicovercrs and th': difcovery were altogether loft to tlieir country. I'hat an event i'o extraordinary fhould not excite to any attempts either from Kngiand or Wales, to- ward foiiowinn; or fmuing out their hardy country- men said their new fstt!emi.*nti- is only to be account- ed OF COLUMBUS. c; cci for from the rude ignorance and fupine poverty of thofj times -, when the human mind was too con- traded to find any internal ftimulatlon toward dif- coveries and improvement. The fmall degree of learning which then exifted was only to be found in cloifters among ecclefialtics ; by whom it was cxer- cifed and employed in the embarniffing difiiinclions, and unmeaning fubtilties of the fchools. I'hey were however at lad rouP-d from their urtlels fpecu- lation by the difcovery of the compafs, which open- ed the way to the invention of inllruments, and the calculation of tables for facilitating the methods then ufed in making celeftial obfervations. Aflifted by thefe inventions, mankind be?;an to adventure the croffing unknown feas •, and the fuc- cefs of their firft voyages encouraged them to attempt farther difcoverics. The Porcugucze coafted along great part of Africa, and took the ifland of Ma- deira, with thofe of Cape de Verde. But thefe attempts were only preludes to the fcheme of Chriftopher Columbus, a native of Ge- noa, who undertook to extend the boundaries which ignorance had given to the world. The juffc idea that this great man had formed of the figure of the earth gave birth to his defi^ri) •, but the maps, more erroneous than his conjefture, made him miftake the cbjcdi:. He propofed to find a paHage to China and India, by crofiing the VVedern Ocean. Venice and Genoa were then almoft the only trading powers in Europe j and they had no other fupport of their power but their commerce : this occafioned a rival- Ihip, ajealouly, and divers wars between them; but Venice was in trade far luperior : (lie had drawn to herfclf alm^oft the whole commerce of. India, always one of the moft valuable in the world, and then carried on only by way of Egypt and the Red-fea. An emulation of this kmd might probably put Co- lumbus on finding another and more dired paFage to the Eaft Indies, and by that means, of transfer- F i ring 6B THE FIRST VOYAGE ring this profitable fade to his own councry. But neither what he fought, nor what he found, were deftined for Genoa •, he however performed the duty of a good citizen, and made his firft propofal at home, where it was rejected. Difcharged of this obligation, he applied to the court of France, and meeting with no better fuccefs there, he fent his brother Bartholomew to Henry the Seventh, who then filled the throne of England ; but Bartholomew being taken and plundered by pirates in his pafTage, was, on his arrival at London, reduced to fuch ex- treme poverty, as rendered him unabie to sain an audience of his Majefty, till by drawing and felling charts, he acquired fome reputation, and put him- felf into fuch an equipage as was neceflary for hrs obtaining accefs to the king. This honour he ob- tained in the year 1488, when he met with all the fuccefs that could be defired, and adually entered into an agreement with Henry VII. on behalf of his brother, fL-veral years before Chriflopher clofed with their Catholic Majefties. In the mean time, Chriftopher applied in perfon to the court of Portugal, where his offers were re- je6led, and he himfelr infulted and ridiculed; but he found in thefe infults and this ridicule, a new in- citement to purfue his fcheme, urged forward by the ftings of anger and refentmcnt. He now repaired to Caftile, and offered his fer- vice to Ferdinand and Ifabella, where he exercifed his intereft and his patience for eight years. There is a fort of enthufiafm in all projedlors abfoluteJy neceffary for the accomplifhment of their fchemes, which renders them proof againfl the moft fatigu- ing delays, the moft fhocking infults, and, what is feverer than all, the prefumptuous judgment paflfed by the ignorant on their defigns. Columbus had a futficient fliare of this quality •, but his patience was at laft quite exhaulted, and he had actually taken his leave of Ferdinand and liabella, in order to pro- ceed OF COLUMBUS. 69 by cced for England in qucftof his brother, of whofefatc he remained entirely ignorant. He was however un- «xpedledly recalled by the queen of Caftile, at the earned perfuafion of Lewis de Saint Angelo her con- fellor, who prevailed upon her to comply with the demands of Columbus, and even lent her money to promote the expedition. Chriftopher was immediately appointed admiral on the ocean, to enjoy all the appointments, prero- gatives, and privileges annexed to the flags of Caf- tile and Leon in their rerpedtive fcas. It was alfo agreed, that all civil employments in the iflands and continent* to be difcovered fhould be wholly at his difpofal ; that all governments fliould be given to one of thofe perfons he (hould name •, that he ihould appoint judges in Spain for Indian affairs ; that over and above the falary and perquifites of admiral, viceroy, and governor, he fliould have the tenth of all that was bought, bartered, found, or acquired within the limits of his admiralfliip, after the charge of the conqueft fhould be defrayed ; to- gether with an eighth part of all that he fliould bring home in his fleet; in confid^ration of which, he fliould be at one eighth part of the expence. As foon as thefe preliminaries were adjufted, and his commiflion and grants confirmed by their Catho- lic Majefl:ies, he repaired to Palos, in order to for- ward his equipment, which confifted of three fmall veflels, the Santa Afaria, admiral Columbus, the La Pinia, Martin Alonzo Piiizon, and the La Nina with fquare fails, under the command of his brother Vincent Yanez Pinzon, both natives of Palos. This fmall fleet being furniflied with provifion, neceflTaries, and manned with ninety men, failed on Saturday the 3d day of Augufl:, 1492 ; but next morning the rudder of the La Pinta broke loofe, fo that the admiral was obliged to lie to, though the weather was fo rough that the only afllflance he could give, was that of encouraging the crew by F 2 his •fO THE FIRST VOYAGE his prcfence. However, Pinzon the captain, who was an able fcaman, foon rcpaned the tiamage, which was fnpi^ofed to have been contrived by the mafter, who was avcrfe to the voya.^e-, and they procci-dcd tolerably well till Tuclday, when the ropes by which the rudder had been recured gave v.ay, and they were t'orcv'^d again to lie by, until they had fupplicd tlie defc(^t, lo as to llcer the fliip as far as the Canary Iflands, v;hich tliey difcovercd on 1 hurlday abour break of day. Some or' the In- pcrnitious liiilors interpreted this ac( ident as an ill omen-, but Columbus wifely obl'crvcd, that no omen could be evil wIk re people were engaf.';cd in a good (it fign : and, in order to divert their atteniion from fuch unmanly trifi'-s for the future, he iiUbudted them in the principles of navigation and gco- graphy. Columbus waiifd a cor.fjderable time to purchafe another velTel -, but, being dira})j)oinrcd, b.e refolv- ed to repair the damaf.:ed car.wal by furniOnng her with a new rudder, and at the fatnc time to alter the fcjuare ffils of the La Nina, tl^.at flic mi;i;ht be the more able to k':ep company with her conforts for the future. Having thus refuted and improved his flc^r, the admiral left the Grand Canuira on the fnil of Sep- tember, and next day arrived at Gom'.'ra, where lome time being fpent in laying in provifions wootl, and water, they fet fiil on Thurfday the 6th, and ftood away to the wellward, with very little wind. On Sunday about day-break tiie admiral found him- fA, A 1.0 1.1 IM 125 ■ 4.0 ^ 13.6 ^Sm m IL25 HI 1.4 I I 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STMIT WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (7I6)S72-4S03 ^^ ^^ ^ A \ Vi^ ^2 THE FIRST VOf AGE difpafed to credit fuch an agreeable illufion. How- ever, as the wind began tofrelhen, they took in their toplails at night ; and on the 1 9th of September, in the morning, the admiral feeing a number of fea-gulls, began to conceive hopes of land, from which he fup- poled thcfe fowl would not fly a great way : he there- fore founded, but found no bottom with a jine of 200 fathoms ; however,* he perceived the current now fet to the fouth-weft. Th'ree days after they took a bird like an heron, faw abundance of weeds, and in the evening were vifited by three land birds finging, which flew away at day-break, and confirmed the ad- tniral in the opinion that he could not be far from land. Next day, they faw a tropic bird, and fuch a quantity of wesds, as alarmed the people, who be- gan to fear that their courfe would be impeded. The wind now blew from the fouth-weft, which though contrary, gave Columbus great fatisfadion, as he could now convince the crew of the vanity of their fears, in fuppofing, that as the wind had been always right a-ftern, they (hould never have a fair gale to carry them back to their own country. But in fpight of all his reafons and rcmonftrances, the crew began to murmur, from an appfehenfion of perifliing at fea, in queft of a country which in all probability had no exiftence ; and their difcontent rofe to fuch a height, that a mutiny would certainly have cnfued, had not a brifk wind fprung up at weft- north-weft, and demonftrated that they would always have a chance for returning, notwithftanding the in- iinuations of fome, who had affirmed that the firft change was no fettled breeze> but a tranficnt pufi^, ■which made no imprefllon upon the furface of the fea. I At the fame time their hopes of difcovering land were revived, by the fight of a dove that flew over the fhip, and feveral fmall birds that came from the ^eft. « But the mortification of the people was greater in proportion as they had been elated by thefe figns, v.>;'r'- \ - .j>; %' ' _ . ■ when I i OF COLUMBUS. 73 \^hefi they found themfelves difappointed : and now, they not only loudly complained, but even began to cabal againil the admiral, who they faid, from a foolifli and ill-grounded notion, had formed the de- iign of raifing his own family and fortune at their ex- pence. They declared that they had already pro- ceeded far enough to demonftrate their courage and perfeverance, and that it was now high time to re- turn to their friends and country, even though force fhould be neceflary to obtain the admiral's confent. It was even actually propofed to throw him over- board, and to declare at their return, that while he was eagerly employed in making obfervations, he cafually dropped into the ocean. . i,< > This fpirit of mutiny among the failors was not un- known to Columbus, who exerted uncommon addrels in quelling it *, fometimes by reprefenting the duty they owed to him, who was vefted with a legal au- thority, which he was refolved to maintain at the hazard of his life ; and fometimes by reproaching them with their impatience and pufillanimity, which €ven the moft apparent figns of land could not re- move. In a word, he demonftrated the folly of their fears, fbothed the anxiety of their minds, and encou- raged their hopes, in fuch i manner as prevented them from taking any refolution to the prejudice of the enterprize. ' On the 25th day of September, about fun-fetting, Pinzon, whofe (hip was a-head of the admiral, all of a fudden, called out. Land ! land ! and pointed to- wards the fouth-weft, where they perceived fome- thing Hk« an iQand, about twenty-five leagues dif- tant : this appearance was fo agreeable to the men, that they gave thanks to God with great fervency of devotion -, and though Columbus was perfuaded it was nothing more than a deception, yet, in com- pliance with their clamorous demand, ftood towards the fuppofed ifland, during the beft part of the night ; but in tiie morning they faw it vanifh in the clouds, on -^ 74 THE FIRST VOYAGE on which their defpondency returned, and they re- newed their complaints. The admiral however per- fifted in the execution of his purpofe, with a llcadi- nefs and intrepidity peculiar to himfelf. Three days after, they perceived the currents were altogether ir- regular; and on the 29th they faw fome gulls, and abundance of flying filh. On the firft day of October, the pilot of the ad- miral's fhip was by account 578 leagues weft of the illand of Fcrro ; though the reckoning of Columbus amounted to 707. On the third, feeing no birds, they conje6tured that they had paflfed between fome iflands ; and the men earneftly entreated the admiral to fteer either to the one fide or the other, in queft of the land they imagined they had left : but he re- fufed to comply with their intreaties, being unwilling to lofe the favourable wind that carried him to the wcftward, which he accounted his furelt courle, and would not take any ftep to leflen the reputation of his undertaking, which muft have fuffered in the opinion of his people, had he changed his courfe from that which he had all along aflfured them would terminate in the accomplilhment of their wiihes. This fortitude of the admiral they interpreted into obftinacy and madnefs,*and were actually on the brink of taking fome defperate ftep to his prejudice, when their fury was appeafed by the arrival of above forty fparrows, and fome other land birds that came from the weftward, and flew over their fleet. -* On the 7th of October, fome imperfeft figns of land appeared in that quarter, but no man on board would venture to mention it, becaule their catholic majefties, who had promifed a penfion of thirty crowns for life, to him who flibuld firft difcover land, had likewile decreed, that whofoever ftiould cry land ! three days before it was actually made, fhould forfeit the reward, even though it ftioitld afterwards prove that he was really th* firft perfon who perceived it. Bw notwithftanding this precaution, the Nina, which being OF COLUMBUS. 7S being the bed failer, kept always a-head, fired a gun, and hoifted her colours, in token of land -, but the farther they failed, the more they were convinced of their miftake; for the appearance that mifled them totally vaniflied as they advanced. Next day, how- ever, they were- in fome meafur^ confoled for their difappointment, by flights of lii|^ fowl and fmall Jand birds flying towards the fouth-weft : and the ad- miral being fully perfuaded that they could not go far to fea, he in imitation of the Fortugucfe, who had difcovered many iflands by following the direction of fuch birds, altered his courfe and fl:ood to the fouth-wefl:, having now run 750 leagues to the wefl:- ward of the Canaries. On the 8th of Odober they were vifired by twelve finging birds, of different colours, and faw a great number of jays, gulls, and ducks, flying towards the fouth-v/eft -, they likewife perceived the air to be freili and odoriferous, as at Sevil in the month of April: but the crew had been fo often deceived, that even thefe certain figns could not fupprefs their murmurs, which, during the two fucceeding days, increafed to fuch a degree, in fpite of all the efforts of the admiral, that he would not have been able much longer to withftand the fl;orm, v/hich was ready to burft upon bis head, had not fuch evident tokens of their being near the land appeared, as could not be difputed but by the moll obftinate and incredulous among them. On the nth of Odober, thofe on board of the admiral faw a green rufli, together with a large rock fifh, fwim by the fliip; the people of the Pinta dif- covered a cane floating, and took up a ftaff curioufly wrought, together with a fmall board, and abundance of weeds, newly waflied from the banks on which they grew. A branch of thorn full of red berries was alfo at the fame time perceived by the crew of the Nina. Being therefore now affured of the vicinity of la;id, the admiral harangued his men at night, after prayers, reminding 76 THE FIRST VOYAGE reminding them of the mercy of God, in granting thrm fair weather during fuch a long voyage, and exhorting them to be extrcrnely vigilant tor that night, as he firmly expeded to fee land next day ; and in order to encourage them, not only mentioned the penfion of thirty crowns, but alfo promifed to give a velvet doublet fooner appeared, than they perceived an ifland, about fifteen leagues in length, almoft one continued plain, covered with trees, fupplied with delicious dreams, and having a large lake in the middle. It was inha- bited by a number of people, who ran down to the fhore aftoniftied at the fight of the fliips, which they at firft miftook for living creatures. In the mean time, the Spaniards were inflamed by the moft eager curiofity, to know ihe particulars of this interefting difcovery : and the veffels were no fooner brought to an anchor, than the admiral went afliore with his boat " "well armed, and the royal ftandard difplayed, at- tended OF COLUMBUS. 77 ing nd hat led tended by the other two captains in their refpedivc boats, with the particular enligns of this enterprize. They* were no fooner landed than they kneeled on the fhore, giving thanks to God for his indulgence, and kifled the ground with tears of joy. The admiral then {landing up, called the ifland St. Salvador*, and took poffeffion of it for their catholic majefties, with the folemnity proper on fuch occafions. This cere- mony being performed, he was acknowledged as ad- miral and viceroy, by the Spaiiiards, who now im- plored his pardon for the affronts and infults he had iuftained from their fear and want of refolution, and readily fwore to obey him as the reprefentative of their catholic majefties. A multitude of the Indians being pren^nt at the tranfaftion, and appearing to be very fimple, quiet, and peaceable, Columbus diftributed among them fome red caps, ftrings of glafs beads, and other things of fmall value, which they received with tranfport ; and when he returned to his (hip, fome of them fwam after him, and others followed in canoes with parrots, bottoms of fpun cotton, javelins, and other trifles, to barter for beads, bells, and other inconfiderable toys. Few of them feemed to be above the age of thirty. They were of a middle ftature, well (haped, of an olive colour, with thick lank black hair, gene- rally cut Ihort above the ears, though fome let it grow down to their (boulders, and tied it about their head like the trefles of women : their countenances M'ere open, and their features regular ; but their high foreheads gave a wildnefs to their afpedt. The faces of fome, and bodies of others, were painted black, white, and red ; and all of them, female as well as male, were ftark naked. So little were they ac- quainted with European arms, that they handled a naked fword by the edge, without fufpeding its mif- chievous quality j they ufed javelins of wood, armed ♦ Now known by the name of Cat-ifland, i , with 78 THE FIRST Voyage: with fiih-bone, being totally deftitutc of iron. And the Spaniards obferving that they had marks of •wounds on their bodies, fome of them were afkcd by figns how thefc fears were acquired ? TJiey anfwered, in the fame kind of language, that tfiey received them in their own defence, againft the inhabitants of other iflands, who came with a view to enflave them. They feemed to be an ingenious peo|)le, and poflefled a volubility of tongue, fo as to repeat the words they heard with a very diftindt pronunciation. The next morning being the 13th of 0(5lober, a great number of thefe Indians ca(me aboard in their canoes, which are made by hollowing the trunk of a tree, fome of them being fo fmall as to hold one per- fon only, and others large enough to contain forty : they were rowed with paddles, and fo light, that if they chance to be overfet, the rowers could eafily turn them again, and empty the water with calabafhes, ■which for that purpofe they always carried with them. Thefe Indians had neither jewels nor any kind of metal, except fome fmall plates of gold that hung at their noftrils, and as they exprelTed by ligns, came from the fouth and fouth-weft, where there were many princes, iflands, and countries. At the fame time they were fo fond of poflefllng any thing belonging to the Spaniards, that if they could pick up a bit of broken earthen ware upon the deck, they would leap into the fea and fwim alhore ■with it. They were ready to exchange any thing they had for the greateft trifles, and fome of them gave five and twenty pounds of well fpun cotton for three fmall pieces of Portuguefe brafs coin not worth a far- thing; not that they believed the things they pur- chafed were of any intrinfic value, butbecaufe they were defirous of preferving fome memorial of thofe white men, whom they looked upon as people de- fcended from heaven. X On «.r J3 OF COLUMBUS, r 79 On the 14th of Odober, the admiral in his boats coaftcd the ifland toward the norch-weft, until he found a large bay or harbpur, large enough to contain all the (hips of Europe. He was attended by mul- titudes of the inhabitants, exprefiing their wonder and regard by a thoufand gefticulations. At length the admiral arrived at ^ peninfula, where he faw half a dozen of their houfes and plantations, as pleafant as thofe of Callile in the month of May. But, finding this was not the land he looked for, he took feven of thefe Indians toferveas interpreters, and returning to his fliips failed on the difcovcry of other iflands vilible from the peninfula. The next day, after failing feven leagues, he ar- rived at the weft end of one of thefe iQands, about ten leagues in length, which he denominated St. Mary of the Conception*, but, perceiving no differ- ence between the inhabitants of this ifland and thofe of St. Salvador, nor any thing worth notice in its produ(5tians, he continued his courfe weftward, and anchored upon the coaft of a much larger ifland, ex- tending north-wtrt and fouth-eaft, above eight and twenty leagues. Before he reached this pleafant fpot, which he named, Fernandina, he took up an Indian in a fmall canoe, furniftied with a piece of their bread, a calabafli full of water, and a little earth lilce vermi- lion, with which thofe people paint their bodies ; he was likewife provided with fome dry leaves, valued for their agreeable and wholefome fmell -, and a little baflcet, containing a ftring of gl i'S beads, and two fmall pieces of Portuguefe money i from which cir- €umfl:ances it appeared he was bound fiom St. Salva- dor to Fernandina, with the ftrange news of the ad- miral's arrival •, but the voyage being long, he was weary with paddling, and deflred to be taken on board. Columbus granted his requeft, treatedhim €ourteoufly, and fent him on flior|, that he might prepoflefs the natives of Fernandina in favour of the Spaniards. The fuccels anfwered the admiral's ex- pe(^ation5 «iv to ' THE FIRST VOYAGE pcftation j for, in confcquence of the favourable ac- count given by the Tnclian, the idanders came aboard in their canoes, to barter with the fame fort of com- modities found at St. Salvador •, but they feemed to have more fagacity than the other, and made more advantageous bargains : they had fome cotton cloth in their houfes, and the women wore a kind of fhort petticoat or fwathe round the middle. Here were fome trees that feemed to have been ingrafted, as they bore leaves or branches of four or five feveral forts : there was plenty of fifli, of different (hapes and co- lours, lizards, and fnakes, and fome dogs, which however did not bark j their houfes were built like tents, almoft entirely void of furniture ; and the beds in which they lay, were like nets hanging from two pods. Columbus, finding nothing valuable in this ifland, failed on the 19th of October to another, on which he bellowed the name of Ifabella, in honour of her catholic majefty. This far exceeded the others in goodncfs, beauty, and extent. It abounded with delicious ftreams, pleafant meadows and groves, and the profpeft was finely diverfified with hills, which the reft wanted. The admiral, enamoured of ifs beauty, landed to perform the ceremony of taking poffeffion, and walked through fome meadows as green and delightful as thofe of Spain in the month of April. Here the ear was raviflied with the fongs of nightingales and other birds, which not only hop- ped from bough to bough, but even flew through the air in fuch fwarms as darkened the day. Near one of the lakes, of which there was great plenty, the Spaniards, with their fpears, killed an alligator kvcn feet long, which though at that time they looked up- on with horror, they afterwards fkinned and ate, being the moft delicious food ufed among the Indians, by "whom they are called yvanas. Having made himfelf acquainted with the produce of Ifabella, and the manners of its inhabitants, Co- lumbus was unwilling to lofe more time among , , £ ^ , thole OF COLUMBUS. 91 thofe idands, and therefore fet fail with a fair wind for a large country, extolled by the Indians, under the name of '^uba, lying towards the fouth •, at the north fide of which he arrived on the 28th of Odlober. This land exhibited a moft enchanting variety of hilU and dales, woods and plains, and appeared to be of great confequence, by the extent or its coafts, and the largeneis of its rivers. • The admiral, in order to obtain fome intelligence of the natives, anchored in a large river, the banks of which were fliaded by thick and tall trees, adorned with blofToms and fruit altogether unknown in Eu- rope, and the ground was clothed with grafs of a moft luxuriant growth. The Spaniards entered two houfes which were dcferted by the people, who, terrified at the appearance of the (hips, had betaken themfelves to flight. They, however, fuftained no damage ; for the Chriftians, without touching any of their utenfils, reimbarked, and continued their courfe weftward, until they arrived at the mouth of another river, which the admiral called de Mares. This be- ing more confiderable than the other, the fhips en- tered and failed up a good way, and the banks were all along inhabited *, but here too the natives fled, with all the efFedts they could carry, to the mountains, which appeared round and lofty, covered with ver- dant and ftately trees. Senfible that he Ihould never be able to learn the nature of this ifland, if the inhabitants fliould conti- nue to avoid him in this manner, and fearing to in- creafe their terror by landing a number of men, Co- lumbus ordered two Chriftians, attended by an In- dian of St. Salvador, and another of Cuba, who had ventured to come aboard with his canoe, to travel vp into the country, and endeavour, by an engaging behaviour, to remove the terror of the people. In the mean time he direfted the ftiip to be careened ; on which occafion he obferved that their fuel wasj Voif, I, G ^ maftigk $2 THE FIRST VOYAGE maftick wood, of which there was great plenty al) over the iQand. By the 5th of November the (hip was repaired and ready to fail, when the two Spaniards returned, ac- companied by two Indians of rank, and informed the admiral that they had travelled twelve leagues into the country, where they found a town confifting of fifty* wooden houfes covered with flraw, made like thofe in the other idands, which contained about one thou- fand perfons j that they were met by the principal men of the place, who led them by the arms to the town, where they were accommodated with afpacious lodging, and feated upon wooden benches, formed in the fhapes of Itrange animals, with their tails lifted up for leaning places, and eyes and ears of gold. Being feated on thefe benches, the Indians took their places round them on the floor, and came one by one to kils the hands and feet of thefe ftrangers, whom they fuppofed to have come from heaven : they, at the fame time, treated them with fome boiled roots, Tiot unlike chcfnuts in tade, and earneftly intreated them to (lay fome days, to repofe and refre(h them- felves. After the men had thus fulfilled the rites of hofpitality, they retired and made room for the women, who, widi the fame exprcfllons of venera- tion, ki(red their hands and feet, and entertained them with their homely fare. This favourable re- ception they owed to their two Indian attendants, who had reprefented the Spaniards as a humane and generous people. When they fet out on their return for the (hip, a great number of people propofed to accompany them ; but they refufed this courteous offer, and v/ould accept of none but the king and his fon, whom the admiral treated with great civility and re- fpedk. Under the protection of this efcorte, the two Spaniards were kindly entertained at feveral petty towns, and met with a great number of the mhabitants, who always carried lighted brands to kindle OF COLUMBUS. M kindle their fires, with which they roafted thofc roots which conftitutcd their chief food, and to perfume themfelves with certain herbs they gathered for that purpofe. They likewife faw a variety of birds and fowl, among which were partridges and nightingales, but no quadrupeds, except thofe filent dogs we have already mentioned : great part of the land was cul- tivated, and bore, bcfides the bread-root, and a fore of beans, a kind of grain called maiz, of which was made a very well tailed flour. Their principal manufacture was cotton, gathered from trees grow- ing fpontaneoufly, without the lead care or culture. The Indians afterwards carried great quantities of this cotton on board the Ihips, where they ex- changed a balket full for a thong of leather ; in- deed it could be of no great value to themfelves, as they go naked, and make nothing of it but ham- mocks and Ihort aprons for the women. They had neither gold, pearls nor fpices, but pointed towards the eaft, to a country called Bohio, where all thefe particulars abounded. In confequence of this information, the admiral refolved to fail thither i but before he departed from Cuba, he took twelve Indians, men, women, and children, whom Jie intended to carry into Spain -, and this feizure was made with fo little diftur- bance, that a man who was a hufband to one of the females, came aboard in his canoe, and begged he might accompany his wife and children : the ad- miral, being very well pleafed with this inftance of natural affeition, granted his requeil, and treated them with great tendernefs and refpedt. ,; On the 13th of November, he returned to the caltward in fearch of the ifland of Bohio i but the wind blowing hard at north, he was obliged to come to an anchor again, among fome high lands near a large harbour, which he called del Principe j the fea in the neighbourhood of this port, being co- vered with iflands that lay fo clofe together, that the G 2 t,iM^t)'i" greatelt % THE FIRST VOYAGE greateft diftance between any two of them did not exceed a quarter of a league : they produced a number of green trees, among others the maftic, aloes, and palm. C lumbus, on the 19th of November, put tofea, from JPrince's Port, (leered eaftward for the ifland of Bohio or Hifpaniola 5, but the wind being con- trary, he was forced to ply two or three days be- tween the iflands of Cuba and Ifabella. During this interval, he was deferred by Martin Alonzo Pinzon, who having been informed by fome Indians whom he had concealed in his caraval, that Bohio abounded with gold, made ufe of the advantage he derived from his veflel, which was a prime failer, and left Columbus in the night, with a view to an- ticipate his fuccefs, and engrofs the treafure of that wealthy country.— Thus abandoned by one of his conforts, and the weather growing too rough to keep the fea, Columbus returned to another har- bour in Cuba, which he named St. Catherine's. Here while the crews were employed in taking in wood and water, he by accident perceived figns of gold on fome ftones in the river, and, farther up the country, faw mountains covered with fuch tall pines as would furnifli mafts for the largeft fhips ; toge- ther With plenty of excellent oak for planks. In his run along the coaft, for ten or twelve leagues to the fouth-eaft, he difcovered many large rivers and excellent harbours, and was raviflied at the beau- ty of the country. He called the place Puerto Santo, and faid that on entering the river, he found from five to eight fathoms of water; and proceeding a confiderable way farther up in his boat, he was delighted with the tranfparency of the water, through which he could plainly fee the fandy bottom; and with the abundance and variety of verdant plains and lofty trees, inhabited by birds of different notes and plumage. He added, that feQ was even tempted in this delicious fpot to fix his habitation *-«• •s. ; oie COLUMBUS, p. Hi Kabitation for life. In this progrefs he faw a canoe drawn upon land, as large as a twelve oar barge, and afterward faw another canoe, formed out of the trunk of a fingle tree feventy feet in length, capable of containing fifty men. After failing io6 leagues along the Ihore, the ad- miral arrived at the eaft end of Cuba, which he called Alpha ; and on the 5th of December failed again for Bohio, which, though only fixteen leagues diftant, he was prevented by the currents till the next day, when he anchored in a port which he called St. Nicholas, in honour of that faint, whole feftival it happened to be. This harbour is large, deep, fafe, and encompafled with many tali trees ; though the country is rocky, and the trees in gene- ral not fo large as thofe of Cuba. He could not however eftablifh an intercourfe with the inhabitants, who fled at his approach, fo that he ran along the coaft to the northward, until he arrived at a port which he called the Conception ; and obferving that the country was very extenfive, and refembled the coaft of Spain not only in the trees and plants, but alfo in the fifhes, the admiral beftowed upo« it the appellation of Efpannola. Here he faw numbers of the natives, who fled from his men with great precipitation -, but having at length caught a young woman, who had a plate of gold hanging at her nofe, flie was carried to the (hips, and prefented with feveral baubles, fuch as bells and glafs beads, then, without having received the lead infult, dif- mifled to the town where fhe dwelt, attended by three Spaniards and as many Indians. The next day, eleven men going on (hore well armed, travelled four leagues up the country to a large village conlifting or a thoufand houfes, and though the inhabitants fled as ufual at their approach, they foon returned, at the perfuafion of a St. Sal- vador Indian, who went after them, and reprefented die CLiiftians in a favourable light. They now G 3 gazed THE FIRST Voyage gazed upon them with equal aftonilhment and awe, as a people come from heaven, prefented them' with victuals, and prefled them to (lay all night in their village. The Spaniards declined accepting this invi- tation, and returning to the (hips, reported that the country was pleafant and fertile, and the people whiter and handfomer than thofe whom they had hi- therto feen ; that they were tradable and courteous, and gave them to underftand that the gold was found in a country farther to the eaftward. This account induced Columbus to fet fail imme- diately ; and on the 15th day of December, while he plied between Hifpaniola and Tortuga, in a very rough fea, he took up an Indian from a little canoe, whom he was furprized to fee live in fuch tcmpeftuous weather, and i'tt him fafe afhore, with fome prefent of fmall value. This man having fignified to his countrymen how kindly he had been treated, they ventured to come aboard, but brought nothing of confequence, except fome fmall grains of gold hang- ing to their ears and noftrils, of which, as they ex- prefled by figns, there was a great quantity higher up in the country. The next day, while the Spaniards were on (hore, bartering with the cacique or lord of that diftricl for a plate of gold, a canoe with forty men approached from the ifland of Tortuga, and the cacique no fooner • perceived them, than he and his people fat down on the (Irand, in fignal that they fliould not commit hoftilities : but notwithftanding this token of peace, they landed ; upon which he rofe, and commanded them fternly to re-embark ; at the fame time he pre- fented a ftone to one of the Spanifti officers, defiring him to throw it at the Tortugans, as a proof that he would efpoufe the caufe of the ftrangers againft the Indians of the canoe. This fpirited conduct had the .defired effed, and the Tortugans immediately re- turned to their own ifland, without committing the leaft infult. , • The OF COLUMBUS. I"* «7 The fame cacique, on the 1 8th of December, came down in ftate, being carried on a' palankine, and at^ tended by two hundred men as naked as himfelf. He now made no difficulty of going on board the admiral, who was at dinner, and entered the cabbin without ceremony, accompanied by two ancient men, who feemed to be his chief counfcllors, and fat down at his feet. Columbus received the Indian chief with great civility and refpedt, and treated him with vic- tuals and wine, which having tafted, he fent to his peo- ple who remained on the deck. After dinner, during which he and his minifters fpoke very little, and that rwith great gravity and deliberation, he prefented the admiral with a wrought girdle and two thin pieces of gold ; in return for which he received a counter- pane, a firing of fine amber beads from the admiral's own neck, a pair of red (hoes, and a bottle of orange- flower water, which were fo agreeable to the prince, that he and his counfellors told Columbus the whole iQand was at his difpofal. Then the admiral fur- prized him with the fight of a gold medal ftamped with the effigies of Ferdinand and Ifabella, which he confidered with admiration, and indeed expreifed figns of aftonilhment at every thing he faw. In the even- ing he was, at his own defire, fent aftiore in the fhip's boat, and faluted with the difcharge of feveral guns, the noifeof which filled him with terror and amaze- ment : he was however fo pleafed with his reception, that he ordered his people to entertain the Spaniards who conduced him to land ; and returned to the place of his refidence, the admiral's prefents being carried before him with great oftentation, by his at- tendants. On the 24th of December, the admiral weighed and failed to a head-land fince called Punta San6ta, where he anchored about a league from ffiore, and the weather being quite calm, he retired to reft, which he had not enjoyed for two days : the crew fol- lowed his example, and, contrary to the orders he G 4 had n THE FIRST VOYAGE h&d always giveh, left only a boy at the helm. This negledt proved fatal to the velTel, which about mid*- night was carried by the current upon a ridge of rocksi before any one on board was aware of the danger* The admiral himfelf was the firft, who being waked by the cries of the boy at the helm, ran upon deck, where perceiving their fituation, he ordered the mafter and three failors to take the boat and carry out an anchor aftern ; but they, inftcad of obeying his di- reftions, rowed to the other caraval, to preferve their own lives, without ihewing the leaft concern for the fafety of their companions. Columbus, feeing him- felf deferted by his own people, ordered the mails to be cut away, and the veflel to be lightened as much as poffible ; but all his efforts were ineffedual, and the water ebbing away, her feams opened, and all below deck was full of water. The boat now re- turned from the other caraval, which would not re- ceive the men who had fo bafely dcferted their com- mander J and the admiral feeing no hopes of faving his own fhip, carried his men on board of the other, with which he lay to till mornings He then ap- proached the land within the (hoal, after having dif- patched meflengers to inform the Indian chief of his misfortune, and to folicit the affiftancc of the natives in unloading the veflel. The cacique condoled their misfortune with tears, and ordered his people to re- pair in their canoes to the wreck, and obey the ad- miraPs diredions : and by the alTiftance of thefe ho- neft and friendly favages, every thing of value was carried afhore, depofited in houfes appointed on purpofe^ and guarded with the utmoft vigilance and iidelity. On the 26th of December, this hofpitable prince, whofe name was Guacanagari, paid another vifit to ihe admiraJ, whom he confoled for his lofs with many giving thanks to God for his profperous fuccefs, which, it was hoped, would re- dound fo much to the advantage of Chrillianity, and the grandeur of their catholic majeftics. By this time Pinzon had arrived in Galicia, and defigncd to carry in perfon the news of the difcovery to court, when he received orders, forbidding him to <;ome without the admiral, under whofe command he had been fent on the expedition. This mortifying repulfe made fuch an imprcffion upon him, that he fell fick ; and rtfturning to his native place, in a few days died of grief and vexation. Mean while Columbus fet out for Sevii, in his way to Barcelona, where their majefties at that time re- fided i and the roads were crowded by all forts of peo- ple, who flocked together to fee him and the Indians in his train. About the middle of April he arrived at Barcclonfi, where he was received in the mod fo- lemn mapncr, by the whole court and city : their ca- tholic majellies, who fat in public upon their chairs, under a canopy of cloth of gold, ftood up when be approached to kifs their hands, caufed him to be feated in their prelence, and treated him as a gran- dee of the firft order, who had done the mod impor- tant fcrvice to his country. Nay, fo highly favoured was he for his merit and fuccefs, that when the king rode about Barcelona, Columbus was always at his fide, an honour which had never been conferred be- fore upon any but the princes of the blood. Nor was their regard confined to unfubdantial forms ; he was gratified with new patents, enlarging* explaining, and confirming the privileges which he had before obtained ; and extending his viceroy altf and admiralihip over all the countries he had dif- ^VoL. I, H * covere4» 9$ THfi SECOND VOYAGfi covered, as well as thofc he fhould difcover : for it yfus refolved, that he (hould return to the Weft In- dies with a powerful armament, to fupport the co- lony he had fettled, and proceed with other difcove- rics. In the mean time they folicited and procured from pope Alexander VI. an exclufive title to all the lands they (hould find and fubdue in that direc- tion, as far as the Eaft Indies. .•.'} V*-: t,; The Second Voyage of C O L U M B U S. AS fbon as all the neceflary meafures were taken at court, for the fuccefs of his fecond expe- dition, admiral Columbus departed for Sevil, where he cxertcid himfelf with fuch diligence, that in a little time feventeen veflels of different fizes were ready to fail, well ftored with provifions and other neceflaries, for the improvement of the In- dian colonies. Many handicraftfmen and labourers were engaged for this fervice, while * the thirft of gold and the fuccefs of the firft adventurers, drew together fuch a fwarm of voluntiers, that he found it abfolutely neceflary to reje6t a great number, un- til another opportunity flipuld offer, and for the prcfent reftrift himfelf to fifteen hundred perfons of all forts, who adlually embarked on this under- taking. ' Having taken aboard fome horfes, afles, and other animals, which multiplied, and were afterwards of great ufe in the plantations, and being well furnifli- ed with all forts of utenfils and commodities for trade ; the admiral failed from the road of Cadiz, where the fleet was equipped, on the 25th of Sep- tember 1493, an hour before fun-rifing, and ftood Ibuth-Weft for the Canary iflands, where he intended to take in fome refrefliment. On the 28th, being 100 leagues from Spain, they faw abundance of • lancU we foi th - ro , St fu ftc m an cl fai ih le th a cc m th ' ^ \ 1 r OF COLUMBUS. 99 knd-fowl, fuch as turtle doves and other fmall birds, paffing from the Azores to winter in Africa. On the 2d of Oftober, he anchored at Gran Canaria,, and at midnight failed again for Gomara, where he arrived on the 4th, and gave orders for fupplying the fhips with all poflible difpatch with wood, water and cattle •, particularly with eight fows ; from which were produced all the fwine now in the Weft Indies. They were called Weft Indies from Colum- bus failing to them weftward -, in hopes, as was mentioned at the beginning of his firft voyage, of arriving that way to the Eaft Indies. His directions being followed, he, on the 7th of Oftober, took his departure for the Indies, after having delivered fealed orders to every Ihip, not to be opened unlefs they (hould be feparated from him by ftrefs of weather. They run 400 leagues weft of Gomara with a profperous gale, and were furprifed that they did not meet with any of thofe weeds which they had feen in their firft voyage be- fore they had made much more than half way. On thd 26th at night, the feamen perceived upon the round-top, thofe lights which they call the body of St. Elmo, to whom they fing litanies and prayers, in full Confidence that no danger would enfue, let the ftorm be never fo violent. On the ad of November in the evening, the ad- miral perceiving a great alteration in the winds and fky, that poured down a deluge of rain, con- cluded he was near fome land ; and almoft all the fails being taken in» ordered the crew to keep a iharp look-out. This was far from being a ground- lefs precaution ; for as foon as day began to break, they defcricd, about feven leagues to the weftward, a high mountainous ifiand, which the admiral nam- ed Dominica, becaufe it was difcovered on Sunday morning. Much about the fame time, they fpied three other iflands ; and the people aflembling on the poop, fung ih^jahe regina^ andreturped thanks H 2 to 100 THE SECOND VOYAGE to God for their wonderful fuccefs in having failed near 800 leagues in the fpace of twenty days. There being no convenient place for anchoring on the eaft fide of Dominica, they ftood over to another, which the admiral called Marigalante, after his own Ihip ; and there landing, he, with the ufual folemnity, con- firmed the polTeinon he had formerly taken of all the iflands and connnent of the Weil-Indies for the king and queen of Spain. '" ' '-^ On the 4th of November, he failed from hence to another great ifland, which he denominated St. Mary of Guadaloupe, in confequence of a promife he had made to the friars belonging to a convent of that name : at the diftance of two leagues from this fhorc, they perceived a very high rock, ending ia a point, from whence gufhed a large ftream of wa- ter, which fell with a prodigious noife. Some men being fent alhore in the boat, went up to a fort of town, which was abandoned by all the inhabitants, except fome children, to whofe arms the Spaniards tied a few bawblts, in token of friendfhip. They faw geefe like thofe of Europe, abundance of very large parrots, pompions, and pine apples growing •wild, of exquifite tafte and flavour. They likewife faw different kinds of ftrange fruits, cotton, ham- mocks, bows and arrows, and other things, which tliey left untouched, that the owners might have the better opinion of their morals. Next day the ad- miral fent two boats afliore, with orders to take, if poITible, fome of the natives, from whom they might obtain fome important information •, and they returned with two young men, who faid they were of another ifland, and taken prifoners by the inha- bitants of Guadaloupe. The boats going aftiorc again for fome of the people whom they had left, found'fix women who had fled to them, and defired to be carried on board •, thefe the.admiral prefented with beads and bells, and difmifled, much againft their inclinations -, and they were no fooner landed^ » Ai'r'fc* *fi K* . '-^ OF COLUMBUS/^^ '' loi than the Caribbees robbed them of their ornaments, in fight of the Spaniards. The next time the boat's crew landed, thefe poor creatures leaped into the boat, imploring protedtion from the cruelty of thd iflanders, who, they fignified, had eaten their huf-' bands, and kept them in flavery. They were there- fore brought aboard the admiral, whom they gave- to underftand, that there were towards the fouth' many iflands, and a large continent, from which, in former times, canoes had come to barter ; arid they pointed out the fituation of Hifpaniola -, whi- ther he would liave fteered without delay, had he not been informed, that one Mark, a captain, had,[ without his leave, gone alhore before day, with eighc men, and was not yet returned; fo that he was obliged to ftay and fend people in queft of him, with trumpets and mufkets, the noile of which' might be heard through the woods, that were al- irioft impaflable. However, this fearch proving fruitleft, he fent another detachment of forty men, under captain Hoidea, with orders to range through the country, and make obfervations on its produc- tions. They found maftic, aloes, fanders, ginger, frankincenfe, fome trees that refembled cinnamon in tafte and fmell, and abundance of cotton : they faw faulcons, kites, herons, daws, turtles, par- tridges, geefe and nightingales ; and affirmed, that in travelling fix leagues, they croflTed fix and twenty . rivers, feveral of which were very deep : this, how- ever, muft have been a miftake, into which, in all probability, they were led by the ruggednefs of the country, that compelled them to croJs the fame river a great many different times. W hile they were employed in this excurfion, the ftragglers returned to their (hip of their own accord, and faid they had been bewildered in the woods ; but the admiral punilhed their prefumpiion, by or- dering the captain to be put in irons, and the reft to be curtailed in their allowance of provifion. This H 3 example . / 102 THE SECOND VOYAGE example being made, he himfelf landed, and en- tered fome of the Indian houfes, where he found a great deal of cotton, fpun and unfpun, together with abundance of human Ikulls and bones hung up in baikecs : and he obferved that the natives here were better accommodated with lodging, necefla- ries, and provifion, than thofe of the iQands whichr be had vifited in his firll: voyage. On the loth of November, he weighed anchor, and failed with the whole fleet toward the northweft in queft of Hifpaniola, pafllng an ifland he called Monferatte, on account of its height; the inhabi* tants of which, as he learned from the Indians, had been totally devoured by the Caribbees, He coaft- ed along St. Mary Redonda, fo named from its round figure -, failed by St^. Maria la Antigua, ex- tending to about twenty eight leagues ; and holding on his courfe, faw, to the north-weft and fouch-caft, feveral other high and woody iflands, near one of which, intitled St. Martin, he came to an anchor, ind when they weighed, pieces of coral were found flicking on the flukes. On the 1 3th of November, he anchored again on account of bad weather, at another ifland, where he ordered fome Indians to be taken, that they might inform him of his true fituation. Accordingly four women and three children being kidnapped by the boat's crew, they put off from ihore, and in their way to the fliip met with a canoe, in which were four men and one woman, who per- ceiving that they could not make their efcape, put themfelves in a pofture of defence, and the female Ihot an arrow with fuch force and dexterity, that it adlually went through aftrong target. But the Spa- niards endeavouring to board them, overfet the ca- noe, fo that they betook themfelves to fwimming, and one of them ufed his bow in the water as dex- teroufly as if he had been on dry land : all the males were eunuchs, who had been caftrated by the Carib- bee^^ OF C O LU M B U S. ' ^ '^'* loi bees, as the cations are made in Europe, with a view to their improvement in fatnefs. The admiral departing hence, continued his coiirie weft-north-wcft, leaving to the northward fifty iOands, thd largeft of which he called St. Urfulai and on the reft he beftowed the appellation of th^ Eleven Thoufand Virgins. Then he anchored in i bay, on the weft fide of what he termed St. Johii Baptift, where the men caught ikate, olaves, piU chards, and (had ; and faw faulcons, and ftirubs liki wild vines. To the weftward of the bay they vifitj- ed fc^e well-built houfes, with a fquare in theif* front,' from which was a fpacious road down to th^ fea, flanked on both fides with cane towers, the tops of which were curioufly interwoven with greens ; and at the end of it, next the fea, ftood a lofty gallery or balcony, large enough to hold ten or twelve perfons. On the 14th he arrived in the bay of Samana^ on the north fide of Hifpaniola, where he fent oh ihore one of his Indians, who was a native of thai part, and being now converted to the Chriftian faithj undertook for the fubmifiion of all his countrymen- From thence, continuing his courfe for the town of the Nativity, he was at Cape Angel vifited by fome Indians, who came aboard to barter ; and coming to an anchor in the port of Monte Chrifto, fome ot his men difcovered, near a river, two bodies of men with a rope made of a kind of broom about their necks, and their arms extended upon a piece of wood in form of a crofs i this circumftance was looked upon as a bad omen, though it was impof- fible to difcover whether they were Chriftians or na- tives of the country. Next day, being the 26th, a number of Indians came aboard, with great conBdence and appearancd of friendfhip, and pronounced feveral Spanifh words they had learned from the fettlers, fo that the admi- ral was eafed of th^ apprehenfions he had begun to H 4 conceive; 104 THE SECOND VOYAGE conceive-, as. he could not imagine they wbuld have behaved with fuch freedom and unconcern, had they, been coTifcious to themfelves of having injured the Chrillians. Next day, however, put an end to his doubts •, for, when he anchored near the town of the Nativity, fome Indians came along fide in a ca- noe, and enquired for him byname; and being fa- tisfied that he was there, went on board with -two mafks, and a compliment from the cacique Guaca- nagari. From, thcfe people he had the mortifica- tion to learn, that the greater part of his fettlers were dead, and the reft gone to other countries : and though he fufpe<5ted foul play, he concealed his fufpicions for the prefent, and that fame night dif- rnilfed the meflen^ers with fome utenfils of fattin and other bawbles tor their prince. When he entered the port of the Nativity, he faw nothing but ruin and defolation ; the town 'was burnt to the ground, and not a foul appeared upon the beach ; and when he fent fome of his people on Ihore to. gather tidings, they found the bodies oi eleven Spaniards, who feemed to have been a month dead. While he ruminated with forrow and refent- inent on this unfortunate event, he was vifited by Guacanagari's brother, who came down attended by fome Indians, and told him, that he fcarce fet fail, on his return to Spain, when thofe he had left behind^ began to quarrel among themfelves, every man endeavouring to amafs as much gold as he could find, and taking as many wives from among the natives, as his apj^ietite, or rather his extrava- gance, fetmcd to require ; that Peter Gutierres and Efcovcdo having killed one lago, had, with nine others, retired into the dominions of a cacique cal- led Caunabo, lord of the mines, who put them all to death, and afterwards came down. with a great number of men to deftroy the town. At that time, James de Arana wiih ten men were lef^ ro guard the fgrt, the reft having difperfed themfelves about •., the the nigl the oth( hii to by he incll Jt » OF COLUMBUS. '•I 105 the ifland ; and Caunabo, who dole upon them by " night, fetiing fire to their houfes, they fled into the fea, where eight of them perilhed, and the other three were (lain on (hore, while Guacanagart himfelf, who had joined the Spaniards, was obliged to fly, after having received a dangerous wound, by which he was then confined to his houfe, fo that he could not wait upon the admiral according to his inclination. This (lory exadly agreeing with the intelligence he received from fome Spaniards, who had been fent up the .country to reconnoitre, and had adlually fcen Guacanagari at his own houfe, the admiral paid him a vifit next day, and was received with all the appearance of cordiality afld concern : the cacique repeated the melancholy tale with marks of unfeigned ibrrow, fhewed his own wound, and thofe of his men, which had been received in de- fence of the Chriftians, and appeared to have been made by Indian weapons. The compliments of con- dolance being pafl:, he prefented him with eight firings of fmall beads, compofed of white, green, and red ftones, a firing of gold beads, a regal crown of the fame metal, and three fmall calabafhes, full of gold dufr, weighing about two pounds. In re- turn for theie valuable prefents, the admiral gave him toys to the amount of three reals, or eighteen pence, which he prized at a very high rate. Though he was extremely ill, he infilled on accompanying his gueft to the fleet, where he was courteoufly en- tertained, and very much furprifed at the fight of fome horfes. He was afterward inftrudled in the myfleries of the Chriftian religion, which he at firft had made fome fcruple to embrace. The admiral being difgufled at this place, which had been the fcene of fo many difafters to him and his people, and knowing that in ,the neighbourhood there were more commodious places for a fettlement, failed to the eaftward with the whole fleet, on Saturday De- (cntiber jfth, and next day came to an anchor among the io6 tHE SECOND Voyage the {mill iflands of Monte Chriflo, which, though deftitute of trees, are neverthelefs pleafanc ^ for in that winter ieafon they abounded with flowers, neils full of young birds, and every other produdlion of jTutnmer. Weighing, however, he failed from thence, and anchored before an Indian town, where he de- ligned to plant a colony. : . i With this view, ^11 the men defigned for fettlers^ together with provifion and proper utenfils, were landed in a plain, where he built a tower called Ifa- bella, in honour of the queen. This was judged a very convenient fpot, becaufe it was under a rock on which a fort might be ere(5ted: the harbour was very large, and at the diftance of a bow-fhot ran a river of delicate water, from which canals might be drawn through the middle of the town ; and be- yond it lay an extenfive open plain, from which, the Indians faid, the mines of Ceboa were not very dif- tant. From the nth day of December the admiral was eagerly employed in regulating this fettlement, which being tolerably well adjufted, he fent Alonzo de Hoieda, with fifteen men, in quell of the gold mines ; and on the 2d day of February he difmiffed twelve Ihips of his fleet to Caftile, under the com- Hiund of captain Anionio de Torres. Hoieda foon returned, and gave the following account of his ex* pedition. On the fecond day he lay at the pafs of an almoft jnacceflible mountain j at the diftance of every league he found a cacique, by vt^hom he was hofpitably re- ceived *, and continuing his journey, arrived on the lixth day at the mines of Ceboa, where he actually faw the Indians take up gold from a fmall river, as they afterward did from many others of the fame province. This information was extremely agree- able to the admiral, who was juft recovered from a fit of illnefs, occafioned by fatigue ; and on Wed- nefday March 12th he fet out from Ifaj^ella for Ce- boa, attended by the people who were in health, on « '^ * foot - >' OF COLUMBUS. >fT toj foot and horfeback* except a ftrong guard which he left in the two Ihips, and three caravals, thac re« mained under the command of his brother Diego Columbus. This precautjpn he took in confequenctf of a confpiracy he had detedbed on board, headed by one Bernarde de Pifa, who had embarked from Spain in quality of comptroller to their catholic ma- jeftie? : but the combination being difcovered, Co^ iumbus fecured the ringleader, until he {hould have an opportunity of fending him home to undergo hid trial. Having thus prevented the fatal confequences of a mutiny, he departed for Ceboa, with neceflaried to build a fort in that province, for the fecurity of thofe who fhould be left to gather gold among the Indians; and thac he might the more intimidate and awe thefe favages, he made a parade of all his pec-: pie, whom he ordered to march through their viU lages in rank and file, with their arms and accoutre-* ments, trumpets founding, and colours flying. Iti his march he palled by many Indian towns^ com-> pofed of round thatched houfes, the doors of which were fo fmall, that no perfon could enter without {looping very low. The inhabitants feemed to have no not-'on of private property, for they attempted to take froin the Spaniards any thing they chanced to like, and were furprifed at meeting with a repulfe. The whole way was divcrfified with pleafant moun- tains covered with wild vines, aloes, caflia, and va- rious forts of treesk On the 14th of March, the admiral fet forward for the river of Canes*, and having proceeded a league and a half, arrived at the banks of another, which he named the Golden river, becaufe here they gathered fome dUft and a few grains of that metal. Having with fome difficulty paffed this large body of water, he found a confiderable town, and all the houfes fhut againil him by the inhabitants, who had barred the doors with canes, which they looked upon as an impregnable defence. On the i6th of March, he entered the province of Ceboa, which, though rough loS THE SECOND VQYAGE rough and ftony, yields plenty of grafs, and is wa- tered by feveral rivers abounding with gold, wadicd down from the mountains ; but has few trees, ex- cept fome pines and pa^ms on the banks of the rivers. His firft care was to ereft a fort in a very ftrong, though pleafant fituation, to command the country about the mines, and protect the Chridian adven- turers. This fortification, which he called the caf- tlc of St. Thomas, was fufficient to render all the attempts of the Indians abortive. It was garrifoned by fifty^fix men, under the command of Peter Mar- garite, and among thcfe were workmen of all forts, to finifh and repair the fort. The admiral, after giving proper diredions to the garrifon, fet out on his return for Ifabella, and arrived there on the 29th of March, where he found melons already fit to ear, though the feed had not been above two months in the ground. Cucumbers came to perfection in twenty days; and a wild vitie in the country, being pruned, produced large and excellent grapes. The next day a peafant gathered ears of wheat, which he had fown in the latter end pf January : vetches improved in the foil, and pro- duced a ripe crop in twenty five hys after they were fowR. The ftoncs of. fruit fprouted out in fcven days I the vine branches put forch in the fame time, yielding green grapes in five and twenty days, and fugar canes budded in the fame fpace •, fo that the admiral was perfectly well pleafed with the climate, the foil, and the water, which was extremely pure, cool, wholefome and palatable. On the 1 ft of April, a meffenger arrived from St. Thomas, with intelligence, that the cacique Cau- nabo was employed in making preparations for at- tacking the fort : and though Columbus paid no re- gard to this report, knowing how little the natives were to be feared, efpecially as they were fo much terrified by the horfes, yet intending to put to fea with witl tinei hinc of wh( and I timl regJ If *J V * OF COLUMBUS ^^ 109 with his three caravals, in order to c rvcr the con- tinent, he refolved to leave every ti ng t^^oiet be- hind him i and for that purpofe feni a cintorcf lent of feventy men to the fort, the grcateft pa. t of whom had orders to make the roads more paffaWc, and find out the fords of the rivers. In the mean time he compleated his town, which was laid out in regular ftreecs, with a convenient market place, and fupplicd it with the river water, conveyed through an artificial canal. He likewife erected a water-mili to grind wheat *, but as his people were not as yet accuftomed to the food of the natives, and provi- fions beginning to fail, he determined to fend all the fuperfluous mouths to Spain. This ftep he was rather induced to take, becaufe the climate difagreed with many, who were in a fi.'ck and languilhing condition : as for thofe who enjoyed health, and were not abfolutely neceflary in the town, he fent them out to traverfe the ifland, that they might recon- noitre the ground, accuftom themfelves to the In- dian diet, and flrike a terror into the inhabitants : they were commanded by Hoieda, who had orders to march into Ccboa, and deliver them to Peter Margarite, who received diredions to lead them, round the idand, while Hoieda commanded the fort of St. Thomas. Accordingly four hundred of the Spaniards de- parted on the 29th of April from Ifabella} and, having croffed the river del Oro, apprehended a ca« cique, whom, together with his brother, they fent in irons to the admiral. This punilhment was in- fiided on the cacique for breach of truft. He had accommodated three Spaniards in their way from Sc Thomas to Ifabella with five Indians to carry their cloaths over a river-, but the Spaniards were no fooner in the middle of the dream, than th& favages ran away with the baggage, and the cacique, indead of punilhing them for the theft, rcfufcd to rcftorc the booty. , ^ . . ' L.u^ Another tio THE SECOND VOYAGE Another cacique who dwelt beyond the river, re- lying upon the fervice he had done the Spaniards, accompanied the prifoners to Ifabella, in order to intercede in their oehalf with the admiral, who en- tertained him courteoudy, but in order to inhance the value of the favour he intended to grant, com- manded the delinquents to be brought out tQ execu- tion. The mediator feeing them m this dangerous fituation, (bed a flood or tears, and begged their lives might be fpared, with the mod carncft entrea- ties 5 in confequence of which they were pardoned and difmiffed. Immediately after their releafe, a man on horfeback, juft arrived from St. Thomas's, told the admiral, that in his way through the town belonging to the cacique who had been prifoner, he had fingly refcued four Spaniards, whom the In^ dians had taken by way of reprifals, and chafed about four hundred people, who fled at the very fight of his horfe. Columbus having now fitted out his fleet for a new expedition, appointed a council tc govern the ifland in his abfence, confiding of his brother Diego as prefident, and five other perfons*. Then he fail- ed to Cuba, ran along the fouth fide of that ifland. * It was during the time that Columbus was thus fettling ths affairs of Hifpaniola, that John Cabot, (a citizen of Venice, who lived at Briftol) and his fon Sebaftian, failed from the laft men- tioned city upon difcoveries ; faw the continent of Newfonndland, to which they gave the name of Prima Vijia, or Firfl-feen ; and on the 24th of June, the fame year 1494, went alhoreon an ifland, which they called St. John*s,'from its being difcovered on St, John's day. John Cabot, on his return to England, obtained a patent for making difcoveries ; bat dying foon after, king Henry Vll. grant* ed a new patent to his fon Sebaftian, who fet fail on the 4th of May. 1497* before Columbus began his third voyage. Sebaftian failed as high as 67*? 30' north latitude; proceeded from thence into the latitude of 56^, and from thence ran down to 38** along the coaft of the continent of America, which he exprefly fays, was afterwards called Florida, where provifions growing fliort, he failed back, touched at NewfuundlaQd, and returned to Eng- land. ■^ir.- and OF COLUMBUS. - lit and put into a large bay, which he called Puerto Grande, from its extent and depth of water. On the 3d of May, the admiral failed for Jamaica^ where he was told there was ^reat plenty of gold, and on the 5th, anchored in that lOand, which he thought the moft beautiful of any he had yet feen. An aSo- nilhing multitude of natives came on board in canoes of different fizes, to barter provifions, which they ex- chanf^cd for the moft inconfiderablc toys. The next day, he coaded along the fhore; but fending out his boats to found the mouths of fome harbours, they were furroundcd by canoes full of armed men, who fcemed bent upon committing afts of hoftility. The Spaniards, however, being refolved to enter Puerto Bueno, faluted them with a flight of arrows, by which fix or feven were wounded, and the reft fo intimi- dated, that they fled with precipitation. In this harbour, the admiral's fhip was repaired, and on the 14th, he ftood over again to Cuba, with full refolu- tion to know whether it was an ifland or a continent. The fame day a very young Indian of Jamaica coming on board, defired to accompany the admiral to Spain i and though many of his kindred and countrymen came, with tears in their eyes, earneftly entreating him to return, he perfifted in his refolution, and the admiral gave orders he ihould be treated with the ut- moft kindnefs and civility. On the 15th, the admiral reached the point of Cu- ba, which he denominated Cabo de Santa Cruz *, and as he coafted along, was overtaken by a terrible ftorm, attended with thunder and lightning, the more dan* gerous as he was entangled among flais and currents, which hindered him from taking in his fails. He found the whole fea, to the north and north-eaft, in- terfperfed with a vaft number of little, low, fandy. iflands, fome of which fcarce appear above the fur- face of the water, and render the navigation very difficult. Indeed the nearer they failed to Cuba, the^ higher and pleafanter chefe iflands appeared ; and as it I .112 THE SECOND, VOYAGE ' it would have been a tedious talk to beftow a name upon every particular, he (tiled them the Queen's Garden. The next day, they feemed to multiply on all hatids, infomuch that the men reckoned one hun- dred and fixty, parted from each other by navigable channels, through fome of which the ihips iailed. On thefe they faw a great number of cranes red as fcarlet, abundance or tortoifes or turtle, and their eggs, and an infinite number of little finging birds. The very air was as fweet as if it had been impreg- nated with the fcent of rofes, and all other vegetable perfumes. In one of thofe channels they found a canoe with fiftiermen, who feeing the boat approach, made figns to the Spaniards to lay upon their oars, until they had performed their operation, which was very fin- gular and curious. They had tied a firing round the tail of fome fmall filhes called reves, that are taught to encounter other fifb, to which they cling fo fall, by means of a certain roughnefs and vifcofity in their Ikin, that the fiftiermen draw them up together : up- on this occafion they caught a tortoife ; and the revc was wound about its neck, where they generally fallen to fecure themfelves from the teeth of their game ; and in this manner they will fometimes attack ftiarks of the largefl fize. The Indians having drawn their line very quietly, went on board of the admiral, and prefented the fifti which they had caught ; for which he gratified them with a few baubles, and held -on his courfe : though he now began to be in want of provifions, and his health was very much impaired by fatigue and want of reft, which he would not venture to enjoy amidft fuch a number of unknown idands, which every night produce a great fog to the caftward, accompanied with thunder and lightning, though it vaniflies as foon as the moon is rifen. During the. night, the wind generally blows off (hore, but in the iiay it is almoft always eafterly, and feeius. to follour the full in its diurnal courfe, /,. ,• • • ^ " * ...On OF COLUMBUS. 113 .. On the 2 2d of May, the admit-al landed on an ifland fomewhat larger than the red, which he called St. Mary, and entered a town abandoned by the in- habitants, where he found nothing but filh, and fome dogs that refemble maftifFs. He then direded his courfe north- edft, where he was ftill perplexed and fatigued, by failing ahd founding among an aftonilh- ing number of Hats and iilands ; becaufe, in fpite of all his precautions in founding and keeping a good look-out, the fhip was often a-ground, ai;d there was ho pofllbility of avoiding this inconve- nience : this confideration, joined to tliofe we have already nientioned, obliged him to relinquifji hjs defign of failing eaft about until he Ihould return to S|)ain. The fhips being how in want of water, Colurpbus touched again at Cub^, add one of the failors going up among the trees with a crofs-bow in feareh of game, faw about thirty people af med with fpears and ftaves, called Macanas, ^nd among them a pcrfort clad in a Syhite coat or vefl that reached down to his knees, and carried by two men in long garments of the fame fluff, all three bein^ as white as Spaniards : but he had no convcrlation vvith thepi ; bec^iife, fee- ing fuch a number, he called to his companions, and the Indians ran away without looking back. Next day the admiral fent people on fhore to know the truth of this report, but the woods and bogs were fo impaffable, that they could not proceed in their inquiry. Abolit ten leagues to the weflward of this place, they faw houfes, from which the natives came in ca- liOes, with water, and fuch food as they eat ; and one of them was detained as an interpreter bf the ad- miral, who promifed to difmifs him in fafety, as foon as he fhould have given him proper direftions for his voyage, and a diftindl account of the country. The Indian was fatisfied with his promife, and gav^ him to underfland that Cuba was an ifland ^ that the king V©t.I. I or ill; n 114 THE SECOND VOYAGE or cacique of the weftern part never fpoke to his fufr^ je6ls, but made certain figns, in confequence of which ail his orders were performed j and that all the coaft was very low, and lurrounded by fmall iflands. Next day, June the nth, the admiral being inclofed be- tween two of thefe, was obliged to tow the fhips over a flat •, and bearing up clofcr to Cuba, they faw very large tortoifes, in fuch numbers, that they aftually covered the fea. Next day the fun was darkened by a cloud of fea-crows that cafnt from feaward, and lighted up- on the ifland, where they likewife faw abundance of pigeons and other birds j and afterward, fuch fwarms of butterflies, that the day was oblcured from morn- ing till night, when they were carried away by a de- luge of rain. On the 13th of June, the admiral being in want of wood and water, anchored in the ifland of Evange- lifta, about thirty leagues in compafs; and having provided the fliips with what they wanted, direfted his courfe fouthward, in hopes of finding another pafl^age : but, after having failed a few leagues through what feemed to be a channel, he faw himlelf embayed, and was obliged to return as he entered. Hence he failed on the 25th, towards fome fmall iflands that appeared to the north- wefl: ; not far froni which the fea feemed in different places to be of various colours, owing, in all probability, to the fliallow water, and nature of the bottom feen through it. Thence re- turnirtg to the coaflf of Cuba, he ftbod to the eaftward with fcant winds, and on the 30th day of June, whfle he was writing his journal, the fliip ran a-ground fo faft, that flie could not be got off without great diffi- culty, and fome damage. ' ' * Mafs was performed on the 7th of July, during which they were vifited by an old cacique of that province, who lifliened very attentively to the fervice, and afterwards fignified his belief of the exiftence of a fupreme Being, who rewards virtue, and puniflies vice OF COLtJMBUS. J15 ^icc in a future ftate : he was acquainted with fome bf the chiefs in Hifpaniola, had been in Jamaica, and at the weft end of Cuba^ where thd cacique was clad likeaprieft. *;^" • . -^i-i r.T ''^' Ort the 1 6th of July^ the admiral put to feaj though very much incommoded by the rains and winds, which, as he approached Cape Criiz, fuddenly in- creafed to fuch a ftorm, that the (hips were almoft bverfct befoi-e the fjlils tould be furled^ and they (hipped fo much watery thit thfe men were fcarce able to keep them dear by pumpirigi fo much were they reduced by fatigue and Want of provifions : a man's allowance being ftinted to a pound of rotten bifket, and half a pint of Vvine pier day, which the admiral hi mfelf did not exceed. In this diftrefs, hei on the 1 8th of July, reached Cape Cru2i where he was very civilly entertained by the Irtdiahs, whofup* ^lied him with bread called cafFada, made of roots grated, abundance of filh, and ftore of pleafant fruit; Thus refreftied, he ftood over to Jamaica on the 2 2d day of July, and coafting along to the weftward; found ifc full of excellent harbours^ and abounding with inhabitants ; he judged it to be about 80 milca in compafs. The weather cleitiri^ up, he failed to the eaftwardv and on the 2bth of Augurti making the fouthfide of Hifpaniola, called the firft point Cape St. Michaeli which is about thirty leagues diftant from the moft cafterly part of Jamaica, and at prefent known by the riame or Gape Tiburon. On the 23d he was vifited aboard by a tacique, who called him by his name, and pronounced fbme Spanilh words 5 and ibout thfc latter end of the month, he anchbred in an idand known by the name of Alto Velo, after having loft fight of the othet two fliips that were under his com- tband. Here the men killed eight feals that lay afleep bn the fhorc, and took abundance of pigeons and bther birds, which, being urtaccuftomed to the cruelty bfthe human fpecics, ftood ftill, and allowed them- 1 2 fdves ii 6 THE SECOND VOYAGE felves to be knocked on the head with ftaves. At the end of ffx days, being joined by the miffing fliips, they flood for the ifland Beats, at the diftance of twelve leagues from Alto Velo : thence coaftina along Hifpaniola, which exhibited a delightful prolpedt of a plain, running up a mile from the fea, fo populous, that for a whole league it feemed to be one continued town, in the neighbourhood of which appeared a lake, five leagues in length from eaft to weft. Here the natives came aboard in their canoes, and informed the admiral, that .hey had been vifited by fome Spaniards from Ifabella, where all was well. He was very much pleafcd with this information, and immediately dif- patched nine men acrofs the ifland to his colony, with the news of his fafe return, while he and his fliips ftill failed along the coaft to the eaftward. In this courfe he fent the boats for water, near a great town, from which the Indians came to oppofe their landing, with bows and poifonous arrows, and produced fome ropes, with which they threatened to bind the Chriftians : jbut as foon as the boats reached the fliore, they laid down their arms, and aiked for the admiral, to whom they mad among whom was the wife of a cacique, who had been taicen by a Canary man, remarkably fwift of foot. Not- -wichftanding his nimbienefs, he could not have over- taken her, had not fhe, feeing him alone, turned back in fuU confidence of making him her prey. She ac- cordingly feized and threw him on the ground, and he certainly would hav^ been ftiflcd, had not fome of his companions come to his afljftanq^. Thefe women, >yho arc exccfllvely fat and thick, fwathe their legs •with a piece of cotton from the ancle to t;he knee, ^nd wear their hair long and Joofe flowing upon their Ihouldcrs, but no other part of their bodies is covered. The captive lady faid the ifland was inhabited by "Vomen only, and that ;imong thofe who endeavoured to oppofe the landing, there were but four men, who chanced to be there by accident ; for, at certain times of the year, they coi?ie from other jflands, to pro- create the fpecies. This is likew^fe the cafe in ano-, iher iflai^d called Matripionio, poll[elTed by the fame fort of Amazons, yrho feemcd to be endued with mafculine ftrength and a clearnefs of underflanding which is not foynd amcng the rpen of that country •, for as other Indians reckon .the d»iy by the fun, and the night by the moon only, the women are acquaint- ed with aftronomy, and they meafure iheir time by the rifing and fetting of the liars. The admiral h«iying furniihed his fbips witlj ^ fup-. ply of bread, wood, and water, fejc fail from Guada^ loupe on the 20th of April, after having gratified an4 fent on Ihore all the inhabitants, except the chief lady and her daughter, who cho^e to go to Spain ajong "yyith Caunabo, who, though a cacique of Hilpanipla, was a native of the Caribbees. By the 20th of May the fhips being about lOo leagn/js weft of the Azores, provifions began to fail, {6 that each man was reftrifted to an aiiowanqe of fix qunces of bread, and fomething lefs than a pint of .. ., : water OF COLUMBUS. ua water per day; and the admiral found the Dutch <;ompaires varied a point, while thofe of Genoa had very little variation. * On the 8th of June, feveral day9 after the reckon- ings of all the pilots had been out, exadly according to the admiral'^ account, they made the land of Ode- nicra, between Lifbon and Cape St. Vincent, which fome miftook for the coafl: of Galicia, while others affirmed they were in ^he Englifh channel ; and by this time the fcarcity on board was fo great, that ipany of the ppjopje propofed to eat the Indians, and others were of opinion they fhould be thrown over- board, in order to leilen the confumption of the provifion that remained. But both thefe cruel expe- dients were rejected by the admiral, who exerted his whole authority and addrefs for the prote^ion of thofe poor creatures ; and n«xt morning he was re- warded for his humanity with the fight of land, which agreed fo well with his predi6tion, that his mei) be- lieved he was actually infpired with the fpirit of pro- phecy. . , The admiral being landed, fet out for Burgos, "\vhere he was favourably received by their Catholic majefties, who were then celebrating the nuptials of their fon Prince John, with Margaret of Auftria, daughter of Maximilian the emperor. He prefented the king and queen with famples of every peculiar production of the Indies, fuch as birds, beads, trees, plants, inftruments, and utenfils, together with fe- veral girdles and mafjcs adorned with golden plates, and a large quantity of gold duft, with grains of that metal of various fizes, from the bignefs of a vetch, to that of a pigeon's egg. v-, • ? Having afterwards vindicated his own condudl to the fatisfadtion of their majefties, he earneftly begged to be fent back with fupplies to the colony which he I)ad left in want of men and many neccflaries ; but notwithftanding all his folicitations, the court was fp ^ilatqry, that ten or twelve months clapfed before he could •i ^ 124 T-HE THIRD VOYAGE could obtain a fupply, which was fent in two (bipf commanded by Peter Fernandez Coronell. After his' departure, Columbus continued at court, to nego- ciate the equipment of fuch a fleet as would be pro- per for him to conduft to the Weft-Indies : but this was long retarded by the negligence and mifmanage- mentof the king's Officers, and particularly of Don John de Fonfcca archdeacon of Scvilc, who being afterwards created bilhop of Burgos, proved an inve- terate enemy to the admiral, and was the chief of thofe who, in the fequel, brought him into difgracc .with their Catholic majefties. f > ■••s ^jL't'itn f I ' w^, A «#fCf The TWr4 Voyage of COLUMBUS. CO LU M B ][J S having forwarded the expedition with the utmoft care and induftry, on the 30th of May 1498, fet fail from the bay of St. Lucar de Barrameda, with fix fhips loaded with provifions and neceflaries for the relief of the planters m Hifpaniola, and with full refolutipn to ipake farther difcoveries. On the 7th of June he arrived at the ifland of Puerto Santo, where he took in wood and water : on the 9th he touched at Madeira, where he furnifhed him&lf with other refrefhments ; and on the 19th reached Gomera, where a French fliip having taken three Spanifh veflels, weighed and flood to fea with them, at fight of the fquadron. The admiral was no fooner informed of this capture, than he ordered three of his fhips to give chape i but they made too much way to be overtaken : one of the prizes, how- ever, was retrieved by the bravery of the Spaniards, whom the French had left on board, and who clap- ping their captors under the hatches, brought the yeffcl fafely into port again, ^ -:*' OF COLUMBUS. 125 From hence the admiral failed for the idand of Fcrro, wher the proprietor of the illand, whofe name was^Roderick Alfonfo. The admiral, on the 30th of -^Jiine, failed for the? ifland of St. Jago, where he came to an anchor next day in the evening, and fent afhore to bu^ fome cowsf and bulls, as a live ftock for his plantation in Hif- paniola : but finding he could not be furnifhed with- out fome difficulty an,d delay, he would not ftay id fuch an unhealthy place, which was always covered with a thick fog ; and failed on Thurfday to thfe fouth- weft, refolving to continue in that courfe, until hd Ihould be under the Line, and then ftcer due weft,* in fcarch of fome undifcovered country. He ac- cordingly proceeded, and judging the Caribbee iflands were to the northward, he determined td change his direction and make for Hifpaniola, be- ing in great want of provifion and water. H6 therefore ftood to the northward, and one day about noon, a failor from the round-top faw land to the weftward, at the diftance of fifteen leagues, ftretch- ing towards the north-eaft as far as the view could extend. Salve regina and other prayers were faid by the feamen, and the admiral diftinguiflied this land by the name of Trinity, becaufe three moun- tains on it appeared at the fame time. Continuing his courfe due weft, without any re- markable occurrences, on the firft of Auguft they dlfcovered the continent at the diftance of five and twenty leagues *, but the admiral miftaking it fo¥ another ifiand, gave it the name of Ifla Santd. '^^ ^ Columbus now proceeded to a more wcfterly point of land, which he named del Arenal, where lit thought his boats would not be fo much incommod- ed by the eafterly wind which prevails on this coaft. In his way he was followed by a canoe with five and twenty men, who flopped within mulket ftiot, cat- ling I-T .-• OV COLtJMfiU& 12' ling very loud : as what they faid could not be un- dcrftood, he ordered one of his men to allure them to the Ihip, by (hewing them fome little brafs ba- fons, looking glaffes, and other toys, of which the Indians ufed to be ienamoured ; but, this expedient proving ineffcdtual, he defired one of the men to afcend the poop and play upon the tabor and pipe, whilil others danced around him. The Indians n^ fooner heard the mufrck, and faw the gefticulations of the Spaniards, than thinking it a fignal for war, they put themfelves in a pofturc of defence, braced their targets, and fliot their arrows among them : and the admiral allowed his people to punilh their infolence with their crofs-bows, which foon compel- led the ravages to retire j though they went along- fide of another caraval, without apprehenfion, and were civilly treated and difmified by the captain, who faid they were well fhaped, and whiter than the inhabitants of other iflands, that hey wore long hair tied with firings, and covered their loins with pieces of cotton cloth. After watering his (hips at Punta del A renal, from trenches which in all probability the fifhermen had made, the admiral proceeded to another mouth or channel towards the north-weft, which he called Boca del Drago, to diftinguiQi it from the watering place he had left, which had the appellation of Boca de la Sierpe. Thefe two mouths 6r channels are made by the two weftcrmoft points of Trinity Ifland, and two others of the continent, lying almoft north and fouch of one another. In the midft of the Boca del Drago, where the admiral anchored, is a rock, which he called El Gallo •, and through the other the fca ran fo furioufly to the northward, that it refembled the mouth of fome great river. As the (hips lay at an- chor, they were faluted by an increafcd ftream run- ning northward with an hideous noife, which meet- ing with another current from the gulph of Paria, fwelled up the fca with terrible roaring, to the afto- nilhmcat ■kk THE THIRD VOYAGE nifliment and tonfternation of the Spaniards, wha expedbed to be overwhelmed. They hovvevcr fuf- ^ered no other damage than that of feeing one of^ the Ihips drag her anchor, though flic was afterwardi brought up by the help of her fails. This danger being pafTed, the admiral weighed Anchor, and fail- ed wedward along the foiith coafl: of Farik, which he then believed to be an iflahd, and hoped to find 9 way northward to Hifpaniolat but, though the coaft abounded with ports, .he would not enter any, 9s all that fea was land-locked^ and formed into an harbour by the contihent. , . *, On the 5th day of Augufl:, while the fiiips lay at iinchor, the boats being fent on fliore, found 4)lenty of fruit peculiar to that climate, a great quantity of wood, and fomcfigns of people who had fled at their approach. Sailing fifteen leagues farther down the coaft, where he dropped anchor, a canoe with three men came aboard the caraval El Borreo, and being Carried to the admiral, were civilly treated, prefent- ed with toys, and feht afhore at £ plafce where ftood a number of Ihdians. Thefe no fooner underftood the pacific difpofition of the Chriftiafis, tlian they came along fide ill thfeir canoes, to barter with the fame fort of things which the Spaniards had bought sx. other iflands : but the people here had no targets nor ppifoned arrows, which are peculiar to the Ca- aibals. ' , , ■ ' , They drank liquor as white as milk, and another of a duikifh hue, that tafted like wine made of foUt grapes. The men • cover their heads and middle with well woven cotton cloths of different colours ; but the women here, as well as in Trinity Ifland, were ftark naked ; they feemed however, in general, to be more civilized and tradbable than the inhabi- tants of Hifpaniola, and were particularly fond of brafs trinkets and bells. As nothing of value appeat'ed among them but sL few inconfidcrable plates of gold that hung about their 3 OF COLUMBUS. KT 129 their necks, the admiral ordered fix of them to be taken on board, and proceeding to the wefcward, touched at two other high illands, well inhabited by people, who feemed to be richer in gold plates than clw)fe he had left : they faid it was produced in other iflands to the weftward, inhabited by Canibals. They wore ftrings of beads about their arms, ibme of them •being very fine pearls, which they fignified were found inoyfters taken to the weftward and northward of Paria ; and the admiral having purcfealed fome of them, for a prcfent and fample to their Catholic majefties, fent the boats to make further enquiry about this valuable commodity. When the Spa- niards landed, they were received in a friendly man- ner by the natives, who flocked round them, and conduced them to a houfe, where they were hofpi- tibly entertained with vidtuals, and that fort of wine we have already mentioned. Thefe Indians were of a fairer complexion, opener countenance, and better ihape than thofe the Spaniards had hitherto feen, and wore their hair cut {hort by the ears, according to the Spaniih fafhion : they faid their country was cal- led Paria, exprefled a defire of living in amity with the Chriftians, and fuffered them to return well fa- tisBed to their fhips. Columbus ftill continuing to fail weftward, found jhe water growing more and more ftiallow, fo that he would not venture to proceed farther in his own ihip, but, anchoring upon the coaft, fent the fmall caraval El Borneo to difcover whether there was an outlet to the weftward among thofe iflands. She re- turned the next day, with a report that what feem- ed iflands, was one continued continent : the admi- ral therefore ilood to the eaftward and pafled the ftreights, which he faw between l^aria and the ifland of Trinity. This paflage he effeded with great dif- ficulty and danger, arifing from three different boil- terous currents. He now failed to the weftward along the coaft of Paria, and aftar pafllng by feveral Vol. I. ' K -■• .- *--■ iQands, I30 THE THIRD VOYAGE iflands, entered on the 30th of Auguft the harbour of St. Domingo, where his brother had built a city, and called it by that name, in memory of his father, Dominic Columbus. The admiral was by this time almoft blind with over- watching, and quite exhaufted with fatigue; but now flattered himfelf with the profpedt of en- joying his repofe in the bofom of peace and tran- quillity. He was however grievoufly difappointed in this expectation, for he found the whole ifland in confufion. The greater part of thofe he had left were dead, above one hundred and fixty miferably infefted with the venereal diftemper -, a great num- ber had rjcbelled with one Francis Roldan, whom he had left as alcalde mayor, or chief juftice ; and his chagrine was completed, when he did not find the three fliips he had difpatched before him from the Canaries. After a tedious voyage, in which their provifions were fpoiled and Caravajal's veflel greatly damaged, thefe fhips arrived at St. Domingo, where the captains found the admiral returned from the difcovery of the continent. He had been informed by his brother of Roldan*s revolt, and refolved to fend a circumftantial detail of the whole affair to their Catholic majefties. At the fame time underftanding that the rebels com- plained of their being detained upon the iQand, by the want of veflels to reconvey them to their own country, Columbus publiflied a proclamation, giv- ing leave to all who were de.firous of returning to Spain, and promifing to fupply them with free paflagc and provifions. At length, after many difputes, it was agreed, that the admiral fhould deliver to> Roldan two good (hips, well manned, rigged and viftualled, for tranf- porting him and his people to Spain, fron the port of Xaragua •, that he fhould iffue an order for the payment of their falaries and wages, to the day of their departure, refloring fuch of their effeds as had been feized by his or the lieutenant's order : and that within OF COLUMBUS. 131 within fifty days from the ratification of this agree- ment, they fliould leave the ifland. Matters being thus compromifed, the admiral gave orders for equipping the fhips, but, neceflaries being very fcarce, and the weather extremely boifterous, fome time elapfed before they could be brought round to Xaragua, and in that interval, Roldan changed his mind, and taking advantage of the delay, during which he faid his people had confumed a great part of the provifion that was intended for the voyage, he renounced the agreement and refufcd to embark. Caravajal, who went to Xaragua with the Ihips, after having in vain exhorted the rebels to comply with the agreement, entered a proteft againit their pro- ceedings, and returned with the fliip to St. Do- mingo. He told the admiral, that Roldan ftill expreffed a defire of feeing the afi^air accommo- dated, and defired a fafe conduct. Columbus, knowing the mutinous difpofition of his own peo- ple, was extremely folicitous about healing the divifion, and not only complied with Roldan*s de- mand, but went round with two caravals to the port of Azura, which is near Xaragua. There he had a conference with the rebel chief, in which it was agreed, that the admiral Ihould fend home fifteen of Roldan's followers in the firft fhips bound for Spain •, and that he fhould give land and houfes, in lieu of pay, to thofe who remained ; and an adt of general amnefty fhould be publifhed, and Roldan again appointed perpetual judge. Having adjufted this troubkfome affair, the ad- miral appointed a captain to march a body of men round the ifland, in order to pacify, reduce and pu- nifh the rebellious Indians, while he himfelf pro- pofed to return to Spain, with his brother the lieute- nant, that no caufe of animofity migh: be left in Hif- paniola, fo as to endanger another revalt. While he was employed in making preparations for the voyage, Alonzo de Ojeda arrived in the ifland with four ihips, K 2 from 132 THE THIRD VOYAGE from a cruize, and putting into Yaquimo, not only . committed afts of outrage upon the Indians, but by letters began to tamper with fome of the Spa- . niards, who were hardly as yet confirmed in their duty after the late troubles : to thefe he infinuated, that queen Ifabella was in a very bad ftate of health, and that after her deceafe, the admiral would find no protedlion at court, but, on the cor^trary, muft fall a vidlim to the hatred of Ojeda's kinfinan the biftiop, the inveterate enemy of Columbus. The admiral being informed of his proceeding, ordered Roldan to march againft him with one and twenty ; men •, and accordingly the chief juftice came upon , him ih fuddenly, at the houfe of a cacique, called . Haniguaba, that finding it impoffible to efcape, an4 being too weak to make any oppofition, be went out , to meet him, excufed his landing, upon pretence of , being in want of provifion, and declared he had no intention to difturb the repofe of the ifland. He^, then told Roldan, that he had difcovered fix hun- . dred leagues to the weft ward along the coaftof Paria, where he found people who fought the Chriftiani hand to hand with fuch valour, that he could make , no advantage of the wealth of the country ; that he , had brought from thence fome flcins of de^r^ rabbets, tygers, and gaaninis ; and concluded with a promife, that he would foon fail round to Domingo, and give the admiral an account of his voyage. Notwithftanding thefe profeflions, he failed to the province of Xaragua, where he feduced a good num- ber of the people who had been in rebellion, by tel- ling them that he and Caravajal wer;. appointed by their majefties, counfellors and checks upon the ad- miral, and that as he had not been juft enough to pay them, they fhould go under his command, and do themfelves juftice by force. This wild fcheme being oppofed by fome of the Spaniards, who de- fpifcd the prefumption of Ojeda, a tumult enfued, in which feveral perfons were killed and wounded •, and OF COLUMBUS. «33- and Roldan, who had reje6led his propofals, march- ing a fecoiid time againd him, he was obliged to take refuge in the fhips. The chief juftice, per- ceiving that he was out of his reach, invited him to come alhore and treat of an accommodation, and upon his refufal took his boat by ftiatagem -, (6 that he was obliged to fubmic to a treaty, in confcquence of which he left the ifland. Not long after his departure, another commotion was raifed by one Ferdinand de Guevara, who was in difgrace with the admiral, for having been con- cerned in the late ledirion. This man being exaf- perated agalnft Roldan, who would not permit him to marry the daughter of Canua queen of Xaragua, began to fet up tor himfelf, and entered into a con- fpiracy with one Adrian de Moxica, who had been a chief aftoi .n the firit rebellion. Thefc two projec- tors engaged many people in their intereft, and re- folved to furprife and murder the chief juftice, whom Guevara confidered as his greateft enemy, and the chief obftacle to his defign. But Roldan, having got intelligence of their defign, concerted his mea- fures fo well, that he feized the chief confpiratorSi and being direded by the admiral to punifii them according to law, he proceeded to a'fair trial; in confequence of which, Adrian was hanged, fome others baniftied, and Ferdinand with a few confede- rates fent prifoners to La Viga, where the admiral at that time refided. This example, which was abfolutely neceHary for the maintainance of peace and fubordination, had fuch an effed upon all degrees of perfons, that tran- tjuillity Was reftored through the whole ifland ; and the Indians fubmitted without further oppofition. About this time, fuch rich gold mines were difco- vered, that every man began to dig on his own ac- count, paying to the king one third of what he found ; and their labour profpered to fuch a degree, that one man has been known to gather forty ounces K 3 in 134 THE THIRD VOYAGE in one day •, and on« lump of pure gold was found, that weighed one hundred and ninety-fix ducats. While Columbus was thus indcfatigably employed in appeafing the troubles of Hifpaniola, and fecur- ing the property of it for their Catholic majpfties, he little dreamed what a ftorm was gathering againft him at home. During the /ebellion, a number of complaints had been fent to Spain by the male-con- tents, who reprefented him as an infolent alien, ig- norant of the laws and cuftoms of the Spanifh na- tion, without moderation to fupport the dignity to which he had been raifed, opprelTive and cruel in his difpofition, and fo avaritious, that he not only with-held the pay from the fervants of the govern- ment, but likewife embezzled the riches of the ifland. They inveighed (till more bitterly againft his brother the lieutenant ; nor did Diego efcape the utmoft virulence of cenfure. Thefe inveftives being fpread by the friends of the complainers, and encouraged by many perfons at court, who envied the fuccefs and reputation of Columbus, fuch a cla- mour was raifed in Caflile, that the king and queen were every day furrounded in the ftreets, apd even in the palace, by people demanding jqftice againft that proud and tyrannic foreigner, who had oppref- fed fo many Caftilians, and difcovered a mifchievous country, to be the ruin and grave of the Spanifh gentry. Other methods were taken to influence the favourites at court, who joining the importunities of the people, their catholic niajcfties were prevailed Vpon to fend an infpe6lor-general to Hifpaniola, with a commifllon impowering him to enquire into the admiral's conduct j and if he Ihould be found guilty^ to fend him home, while he Ihould remain gover- nor of the ifland. The perfon chofen for this of- fice, was one Francis de Bovadilla, a knight of the order of Calatrava, in very low circumftances, who being furniflied with full powers and authority, ar- rived at St. Domingo in the latter end of Auguft 1500, yi- OF COLUMBUS. ^ • 135 1500, while the admiral was at Conception, with almoft all the people of confequence, employed in fettling the affairs of that provincf, where his bro- ther had been aflaulted by the malccontents. The new infpeftor, finding nobody at St. Domin- go who could be a check upon his conduct, took pof- fion of the admiral's palace, and converted his ef- fedts to his own ufe •, then aiTembling all thofe whom he found difaffefted to the brothers, declared him- fclf governor ; and, in order to attach the people to his intereft, proclaimed a general remilfion for twenty years to come. The next ftep he took was to re- quire the admiral's prefence without delay ; and, to enforce this order, he fent him the king's letter, to this effedl. To D. Chriftopher Columbus, our admiral of the ocean. " We have ordered the commendary Francis de " BovadiUa, the bearer, to acquaint you with fome " things from us : therefore we defire you to yield •* him intire credit and obedience." — Given at Ma- drid, May 21, 1499. " By command of their highnefles, *' Mic. Perez de Alamazan. 'I " I THE KING. " I THE C^JEE^f. The admiral no fooner received this letter, than he fct out for St. Domingo, to wait upon Bovadilla; who without delay or legal information, fent him and his brother Diego on board of a (hip, where they were put in irons, under a ftrong guard, and en- tirely excluded from the fpeech of any perfon what- ever. Then a procefs was inftituted againft them, and all their enemies admitted as evidences, who, in their depofitions were fo malicious, incoherent, and abfurd, that no perfon, who had not been deter- mined at all events to ruin the accufed, would have paid the leail regard to their allegations. But, fo K 4 far 136 THE THIRD VOYAGE far wasBovadilla from doing juftice on this occafion^ that he countenanced the mod flagrant perjury, and even encouraged the rabble to infult the prrfoners* by reading fcandalous libels in the market-place, and blowing horns at the port where the fhips lay at anchor. Perhaps the lieutenant, who >Vas not yet returned from Xaragua, might have refcued his bro- thers by force of arms, had not the admiral ordered him to fubmit quietly, and furrender himfelf to thcf authority of their majefties, now vefted in the per- fon of their new governor, who had no fooncr fecu- red their pt'ribns, and laid (lri(5b irjundtions on An- drew Martin the captain of the fhip, to deliver the admiral in irons to the bifhop D John de Fonfeca his enemy, by whofe direction he afted, than he began to fquander the king's revenues among his creatures, to embezzle the treafure, countenance all mariner of profligacy and extravagance, opprefs and plunder the Indians, and, in fhort, deftroy the wholefome yegtilatlons which had been eftablifhed. '*' " With regard to the admiral, he declined accepting the favour of Andrew Martin, who being adiamed of his fituation, would have knocked off his irons ; but he infifted upon wearing them during the whole paflage, faying he was" refolved to keep them as 9 memorial of tne reward he had obtained for his fer- vice. Nor did he ever change his opinion in this particular •, for the fetters were always preferved in his own chamber, and burled in the fame coffin witlj his body, at his own requeft. On the 20th of November, 1500, he wrote a let-^ ter to their Catholic niajefties, giving an accqunc of his arrival at Cadiz \ and they underftatiding his fitu- ation, gave immediate orders that he fhould be re- leafed, and fent hi"! very gracious letters, in which ^hey exprtfTed their forrow for his fufferings, and the unmannerly behaviour of Bovadilla, and invited him to court, with promife that he fhould be fhortly atched with full reflitution of hi& honour. Ac- cordingly i ^^% OF COLUMBUS. »3; cordinojly on his arrival at Granada, he met with a very favourable reception from the king and queen* who expreffcd their difpleafure againft the author of his imprifonment, and promii'cd that he fliould have ample fatisfadion. In the mean time, they ordered his affair to be examined, and the accufation plainly appearing malicious and frivolous, he was honour- ably acquitted. A new governor was appointed to be lent to Hifpaniola, in order to rcdrcfs the admiral's grievances, and oblige Bovadilla to reftore what he had unjuftly fcrzcd ; and to proceed againft the re- bels according to the nature of their offences. This power and commifljon was granted to Nicholas dc Obando, commandery of laws, a man of abilities, but crafty, cruel, and revengeful, who liftened to malicious furmifes, and exercifed great barbarity^ upon the natives and their chiefs. At the fame time^ it was rcfolved, that Columbus fhould be fent upon fome voyage that might turn to his advantage and keep him employed, until Obando (hould fettle the affairs of Hifpaniola. But the admiral being weary of fuch expeditions, extremely chagrined at the in- gratitude of Spain, and apprehenfive of future dil^ grace from the indefatigable efforts of his enemies at court, defired to be excufed from embarking again, and would not engage in the enterprize, until he was ftrongly folicited by their majefties, who alfarcd him of their proteftion. It may be obferved, by way of digreffion, that while Columbus was profecuting his third voyage, Alonzo de Ojeda, whom we have already mentioned, and Americus Vefpucius, obtained from the bifhop of Bargos, the draughts and plans which, by their majefties order, Columbus had depofited in the hands of that prelate, and who, out of hatred to that great commander, gave them up without the know- ledge of the king and queen. The licences he gave were alfo clandeftine. They fct fail from Cadiz on the 20 of May, 1499, and ftetred dirc6tly m fcarch of I3S THE THIRD VOYAGE of the continent, purfuant to the admiral's fchcme, which before this time he had actually carried into exe- cution. This was the firft voyage made by Americus Vefpuclus, and though he now only touched at that part of the continent which had already been vifitcd by the admiral, yet he pretended to difcovcr it; and by confounding this with a voyage he afterwards made into thofi parts, dreffed up a plaufible ftory j and being an excellent geographer and draftsman, impofed upon the greateft part of Europe, and gain- ed the undefcrvcd honour of giving a name to the new world, which is called America \ when it might with more propriety be named Columbia^ In Spain, however, he was foon detedted ; for pretending that he returned diredlly to that kingdoai after a voyage of thirteen months fpent in difcoveries, Ojeda made oath that only five months were fpent in the voyage, and that finding themfelves fhort of provifions, they failed to Hifpaniola for a fupply. It was no fooner known that Alonzo Ojeda, and Americus Vefpucius had obtained the above licences, than others refolved to make ufe of the fame interell, in order to acquire a (hare of the riches of the new world : and a company was formed at Seville, the prin- cipal of whom was Peter Alonzo Nino of Palos, who was with the admiral when he difcovered Paria, and Chriftopher Guerre of Seville. Nino having obtained the king's licence, upon condition of his not coming to an anchor, or land- ing within 50 leagues of any place difcovered by Columbus, fet fail foon after Ojeda and Vefpucius ; difcovered land, and arrived at the province of Pa- ria a few days after them, where finding the Indians behave peaceably, he, contrary to his inftrudlions, landed and cue Brazil-wood, and then continuing his courfe, came to what Columbus had called the Bay of Pearls, formed by the ifland of Margarita, and the continent, and which he had vifited in 1498. ■,> { ■ The on OF COLUMBUS. 139 r The people here went on board Nino's fhips with- out any apprehcnfions, carrying pearl necklaces, and wearing jewels in their nofcs and ears i for which the Spaniards gave them hawks-bells, bracelets, rings, and fevcral trifles made of tin. Having thus purchafed a confidcrable quantity of valuable pearls, the Spaniards palTcd by Coro, near the province now called Venezuela, 1 30 leagues below Paria and the Pragon's Mouth ; and anchored in a bay where they were well received by 50 men, who came from a place at a league's diftance, and very earnedly pref- I'ed them to anchor at their town : upon which the Spaniards gave them fome toys, and the Indians taking off all the pearls they had about their necks and arms, gave them as many as weigh?^ fifteen ounces. • ; v.-c ui- . * The next day the Spaniards came to an anchor before a town called Curiana, where the Indians made figns to them to come on lliore • but being no more than 33 men, they durft not vcnti: % and therefore by their figns invited the Indiai j to come on board, which they did in their .rjes, carry!?; pearls which they freely exchanged :*")r toys: by which the Spaniards being convinced of their fincc- rity, landed and (laid twenty days on fhore, during which they were courteoufly entertained with veni- fon, rabbits, gecfe, ducks, parrots, filh, and bread made of Maize. They perceived that the natives Jcept markets or fairs •, that they had earthen jars, dilhes, and other veflels of feveral (hapes, and that in their pearl necklaces they had frogs and other creatures made of gold. : >;ey alked by figns where that metal was gathered, and were anfwered in the 1.1 me manner, that it was got fix days journey from thence, at a place cabled Curiana Cauchcito. The Spaniards tnerefore failed thither, and found that the people were very tradtable ; for they came on board without the leaft jealoufy, and bartered ^vith them for wrought and unwrought gold, though they 14© THE THIllD VOItAGE they would not part with their pearls. They alfb gave them fome monkies, and very beautiful parrots of various colours. Leaving this place they proceeded farther ; but as they approached the Ihore above 5000 naked meh came armed with bows and arrows to oppofe their landing, and though they drove to pleafe them by ihewing them hawk's bells and other things, could not prevail, and therefore jeturned to Curiana, where they were received with the fame fatisfadion as be- fore, the Indians now trading with them for pins and needles, which the Spaniards ihewed them would be of ufe in drawing the thorns out of their feet, when they happened to tread upon them. Tht In- dians were highly pleafed, thinking they had made very advantageous bargains with the Spaniards, who cafried away above 1 2000 ounces of pearls, fome of which were very beautiful and well coloured, and as large as fmall haflenuts •, but they were ill bored, the Indians having no iron. The Spaniards were now fo well fatisfied with the fuccefs of their voyage, that they refolved to return home, and arrived in Gali- cia on the i6th of February, 1500, two months after they left Curiana, when Nino and Chriftopher Guerra, who fhared in the ex|. ence and profits of the voyage, were ace u fed before the governor, by their own fhip*s crew, of having defrauded the king of his duty, which was the firth part. The great riches which the adventurers gained by this Voyage, promoted the fpirit of difcovery, more cfpccially among fuch as knew the propofals made by Columbus, or had ferved under him in his firft two voyages. Of thefe none was fo capable of pro- fecuting them as Vincent Yanez Pinzon. He had a liberal education, great courage, and a large for- tune ; he therefore fitted out, at his own expence, ^ a fquadron of four IVout fhips, with which he failed to the Cape de Verd iflands, where he took in re- freihments, and fteered from St. Jago, about the ^^. . . year to OF COLUMBUS. Hi year 1500, firft (landing to the fouth and then to the weft, and was the firft fubjeft of the crown of Caftile and Leon that croffcd the equinoiUal. • But he had hardly pafTed the line, when he met with a dreadful ftorm, in which all on board exped- cd to perilh : However, having run 240 leagues farther to the weft ward, they on the 26th of Febru- ary difcovered land at a great diftance, which Yanez called Cabo de Confolation, or Cape Comfort *, and founding, had 14 fathoms water. . Captain Pinzon going on ftiore, took pofleffion of the country in the name of their Catholic majefties, and endeavoured to the utmoft of his power, though without efFedt, to induce the people to trade with him •, for the na- tives being inflexible, and having no good opinioa of thcfe invaders, an engagement enfued, in which fome were flain on both fides. This made captain Pinzon refolve to retire and and continue his voyage, which he did to the mouth of the river Maranon, where he obferved a mighty ftruggle between the tide of fait water coming in, and a vaft current of frefh water pouring down from the land. The country at the mouth of this river, he found well inhabited on both fides, but not being able to perfuade the inhabitants to traffick, he re- folved, without farther delay, to proceed toward Paria. Yanez, on his arrival at Paria, took in Brazil wood, and then ftruck over to the iflands that lay in the way to Hifpaniola: but when the fhips were ly- ing at anchor, there arofe fuch a dreadful ftorm that two of the four funk in fight of the others, with all the men ♦, a third was forced from her anchors with 18 men, and carried out of fight, and the fourth, though ftie rode it out, beat fo furioufly, that the failors believing ftie would be daihed in pieces, went alhore in the long-boat, and had It is now called Cap: St. Auguflin. thoughts 142 THE FOURTH VOYAGE thoughts of murdering all the Indians they found, to prevent their calling in their neighbours to dc- ftroy them : but the fhip that had been driven to fea "with the 1 8 men returned, and the other which rode at anchor being faved, they failed to Hifpaniola, where they refitted, and returned to Spain about the latter end of September -, after having difcovercd 6oo leagues of the coaft of Paria. It is here proper to remark, that Emanuel king of Portugal fending a conliderable fleet to the Eaft- Indies •, under the command of Peter Alvarez Ca- bral, in the year 1500; that admiral failing to the fouth weft to avoid the calms on the coaft of Guinea, was fo happy as to difcover Brazil, one of the richeft provinces in South America ; by mere accident. But it is now neceffary to return to the difcoveries made by the great Columbus. • -v^vr-., i- ing < > ti The Fourth Voyage of COLUMBUS. ?■■ COLUMBUS, after receiving his inftrudlions, fet out in the year 1501 for Sevil, in order to fuperintend the equipment of his fquadron, confift- ing of four fmall (hips, with one hundred and forty men, including boys. All the neceflary preparations being made, he failed from Cadiz on the 9th of May ' for St. Catherine's, from whence, on Wednefday the iith he departed for Arzilla, in order to relieve the Portuguefe, who were faid to be in great diftrefs ; but before he arrived, the Moors had raifed the fiege. He thcrefc re failed for the Grand Canaria, where he arrived on the 20th, and took in wood and water for the voyage. • The coaft of India had been difcovered by Vafco de Gamrr. in 149^, while Columbus was engaged in his ihird voyage to tiit Wcit*in(Uei. See Vafco de Cama** vovagc, iu our fccond volume. Oil ^ V OF COLUMBUS. H3 On the 25th, in the evening, he proceeded for the "Weft Indies, and the wind was fo favourable, that without having handled the fails, he arrived at the ifland of Martinico on the 15th of June; and hav- ing taken in a frelh fupply of wood and water, he ftood to the weftward among the Caribbce iQands. Thence he (leered his courfe for St. Domingo, where he intended to change one of his fhips, which was a bad failer, hoping to (ontinue his voyage with more advantage, to the coaft of Paria, in queft of the ftrait which he fuppofed to be near Veragua and Nonibre de Dios. But that the new commendary, whom their majefties had fent to call Bovadilla to account, might not be furprifed at his unexpeded arrival, he, on the 29th of June, being near the port, difpatched before him Peter de Terreros, one of his captains, to fignify the occafion he had for another (hip, as well as for fhelter againft a ftorm which he forefaw ; and on account of which, he defired the commendary would not fuffer a fleet that lay ready for failing to quit the harbour. So little inclined was this new governor to afllft the admiral with another veflel, that he would not even allow him to enter the port ; and difregarding his advice, permitted the fleet, confifl:ing of eighteen fail, to go to fea without delay, on their return to Spain, having on board Bovadilla, Roldan, and the reft of the admiral's enemies. But they had hardly weathered the eafl: point of Hifpaniola, before they v;ere overtaken by a dread- ful tempeft, in which their admiral foundered with Bovadilla, and almoft all the chief rebels ; and of the whole eighteen fliips, not above three or four were faved, while Columbus, who pronofticated the ftorm, ftieltered himfelf as well as he could under the land. On the fecond day, however, the wind rofe to fuch a pitch of fury, that his other three veflfels were forced out to fea •, where the Bermuda, the (hip he wanted to exchange, muft certainly have peri(hed. 144. THE FOURTH VOYAGE periflied, had not (he been preferved by the admi- rable (kill ^pd dexterity of D. Bartholomew, who was allowed to be the moil expert feaman of his time. The fliips being thus feparated, every one conclud- ed the other was loft, until, in a few days, they myet ^g^in in the port of Azua, where, upon comparing their obfervations, it appeared that Bartholomew )iad weathered the ftorm by running out to fea» like an ^ble failor, while Chriltopher had avoided great part of the danger, by lying clofe under (hore, like a wife aftronomer. Indeed the admiral's fatis- faftion w^s confiderably diminilhed, by the mortifi- cation and chagrin he felt, upon refledting, that he was denied (belter in that very country which he himfclf had difcovered, and annexed to the crown of Spain. This (tprm, together v/ith its confequeiv- ccs, furniihcd his enemies with a pretence for fay- ing, he had raifcd it by magic, for the deftru6tion of the fleet bound for Spain ; and what added more weight to this fuppofition, the only (hip of the eighteen that arrived in Spain, was the Aguja or Needle, on board of which were 4000 pefos in gold, l^elonging to the admiral, while the other three, which refifted the fury of the ftorm, were forced back to St. Domingo in a (battered condition. Columbus having refreihed his men in the har- bour of Azua, failed to the port of Brazil, which the Indians call Gracchimo, to (helter himfelf from another ftorm that was brewing ; and thence de- parting July 14th, was becalmed in fuch a manner, that inftead of continuing his courfe, he was carried away by the current to certain illands near Jamaica, which being very fmall and fandy, he named Los Poros, or the Wells ; becaufe, for want of frefli fprings, he ordered his men to dig pits in the fand, jfrism which they drew water for the ufe of the (hip. Then ftanding to the fouthward for the continent, he reached the iflands of Guanara, near the pro- vipce npw called Honduras, where his brother Bar- tholomew OF COLUMBUS. '45 tholomew goin^ afbore with two boats, found peo- ple like thofe ot the other iflands, a great number of pine trees, and pieces of lapis calaminaris, which being mixed with copper, fomeof the fcamen miftook for gold, and concealed accordingly. While he re- mained in this place, he defcried a canoe as long as a galley, and eight feet wide, with an awning in the middle, made of palm-tree leaves, not unlike thofe of the Venetian gondolas -, under this cover, the women, children, and all the goods, were flickered from the weather ; and, though the veflel was man- ned by twenty- five ftout Indians, thqy allowed them- felvcs to be taken without oppofition. Rejoicing at this opportunity of knowing the com- modities of the continent, without danger, the ad- miral ordered the cargo to be examined, and found quilts and Ihirts of cotton, without fleeves, curioufly ■wrought, and dyed of feveral colours, together with large Iheets, in which the women wrapped them- felves -, long wooden fwords, edged on each fide, with flint fixed in a groove, with thread and a bituminous matter, hatchets and bells 6f copper, with plates and crucibles for melting that metal. The provifion confided of fuch roots and grain as are ufed for food in Hifpaniola, and a fort of liquor, made of maiz, refembling Englifh beer. They had alfo a good number or cacao nuts, which in New Spain pafs for money, and upon which they feemed to put a great value i for, notwithftanding the confternation with which they were feized, when they found themfelvcs prifoners among fuch a ftrange race of men, they never failed, when one of thcfe nuts chanced to fall upon deck, to ftoopdown and take it up with marks of eagernefs and concern, as a thing of great confe- quence. Nor ought we to omit mentioning their ex- traordinary modefty, which was lb remarkable, that when fome of them were pulled on board by their clouts, which gave way, they immediately covered their nudities with their hands, and the women wrap- VoL. I. , L ped 146 THE FOURTH VOYAGE ped themfclvcs in their flieets, with figns of fhama and confufion. This fenfe of decorum had fuch an cffc6t upon the admiral, that he ordered them to be well ufed, reftored their canoe, and gave them Euro- pean commodities in exchange for thofe articles of their merchandize which he thought proper to retain : however, he kept one old man called Giumbe, who feemed to be the wilcft and chief man of the whole, that from him he might learn fome other material particulars of the country, and ufe him as an interpre- ter among the other Indians. I'his office he chcar- fully undertook, and faithfully difcharged in the courfe of the voyage, as long as it continued among people who underftood his language ; and when he could be no longer ferviceable, he was difmifled with many valuable prefents, as a reward for his fidelity. The admiral, though informed by this Indian of the great wealth, politcnefs, and ingenuity of the people who lived to the weftward in new Spain, yet knowing as thefe countries lay to leeward, he could fail thither at any time from Cuba, he refolved at prcfent to perfift in his defign of difcovering the ftrait in the continent, through which he might penetrate into the South Sea, and reach the fpice country ; and accord- ingly turned to the eaftward towards Veragua and Nombre de Dios, where he was told this ftrait would be found. Nor was the information untrue •, for the Indians meant a ftrait of land or ifthmus, which he miftook for a narrow gulph extending from fea to fea. In queft of this ftrait he failed towards a point on the continent, which he named Cafinus, becaufc there he found great plenty of trees, bearing a fruit fo called by the natives of Hifpaniola ; and near this cape he faw people who wore painted fhirts or jerkins, and clouts made of cotton, like coats of mail, fo ftrong as to defend them againft the weapons ufed in that country, and even againft the ftroke of an European fword. But farther to the eaftward, near Cape Gra- cias a Dios, the natives are of a fierce afpe(5b and favagc OF COLUMBUS, 147 favage difpofitbn, go ftark naked, eat human fleih, and fi(h raw as it is taken ; and they make fuch holes in their cars, as will admit an hen*s egg •, from which jcircumllance the admiral denominated that coa(t, de Las Orejas, or, of the Ears. Turning ftill to wind- ward, on Sunday Augufl 14th, 1502, Bartholomew Columbus went afhore in the morning to hear mafs, with the colours, captains, and a good number of men ; and on Wednefday following, when they went to take pofleflion of the country for their CathoUc majefties, above one hundred Indians, loaded with provifions, ran down to the (hore, and on the ap- proach of the boats, on a fudden retired without fpeaking one word. The lieutenant perceiving their timidity, employed the interpreter to allure them with horfe bells, beads, and other toys, which pleafed them fo much, that next day they returned in greater numbers, with feveral forts of provifions, fuch as hens of that country, which are better than thofe of Europe ; geefe, roafted-filb, and red and white beans, refembling the kidney-beans of Spain. The country, though low, was green and beautiful, producing abundance of pines, oaks, palm-trees, and mirabQ- ians, together with every fort of fruit or provifion to be found upon the ifland of Hifpaniola. Here like- wife were leopards, deer, and other animals. The people were like thofe of the iQands, except in their foreheads, which were not fo high j their loins only were covered ; they feemed to have no religion, and every nation fpoke a particular language ot its own. Their arms and bodies were ornamented with different figures, wrought into the ;! Next day, the admiral's brother going afhore to learn fomething of the country, two of their chief men came to the boat, and taking him by the arms, made him fit down upon the grafs between them. In this fituation he began to interrogate them, and or« dered the fecretary to write down their anfwers ; bur, they no fooner faw the pen, ink, and paper, than they were feized with confternation, and ran away, believing that thefe were implements of forcery : for they had performed fome ceremonies of exorcifm be- fore they approached the Spaniards. D. Bartholomew having quieted their apprehenfions, vifitcd their town, where, in a great wooden palace, covered with canes, he faw feveral tombs, in one of which was a dead body embalmed -, and in another two human carcafles wrapped up in cotton ftieets, without emitting the leaft odour : over each of thefe catacombs was a board, with the figures of beafts carved upon it •, and on fome of them were the effigies of the defunft, adorned with guaninis, beads, and other ornaments upon which they fct a value. L 3 The 150 THE FOURTH VOYAGE The admiral was fo dcHrous of being better acr quainted with the nature of thfs country, and the manners of the inhabitants, WRo feemed to be more civilized than any h& had yet feen, that he ordered feven to be taken, and of thcfe he chofe two that feemed to be the mod intelligent, fending the reft away with fome prefents, and an afTurance that their companions were detained for no other reafon, ^han to ferve as guides and interpreters along the coaft, and that in a little time, they would be certainly fet at liberty. Notwithftanding thcfe profeflions, ^hey imputed the detention to avaripe j and next day, a number of them coming down to the (hore, fent four ambailadors on board qt the ^dmir^l, to treat for the ranfom of their countrymen^ with a prefent of two wild hogs, which, though fmal), were very fweet. Thefe deputies were entertained with great civility -, and, though he would not comply with their requeft, fent them aWay well fatisBed, and amply paid for their hogs. One of which was hunted on board by a kind of wild cat, of a greyifh colour, caught in a wood by afeamjin, after he had cut off one of its fore legs. This animal, which is as big as a fmall grey- houiid, leaps )ike a fquirrel from tree to tree, and not only fattens upon the branches with its claws, but even with its tail, by which it often fufpends itfclf, cither for reft or fport. The hogs, though naturally very ferocious, no fooner faw it, than they ran about the deck in a fright j and the admiral perceiving their terror, ordered one of them to be brought near the cat, which immediately wound its tail about the hog*s fnout, and with the foreleg that remained, faftei)ing upon its poll, would foon hav; made a prey ot it, had not the people interpofed. From thefe circumftan(^es it appeared, that thofe cats hunt like the wolves in Spain. .On the 5th of Oftober, the admiral failed into the jbay of Caravaro, fix leagues in length, and above jthree in breadth, in which are many fmall iHands ; and OF COLUMBUS. »5f and between them the (hips fail as it were in flrcets, brufhing the trees on each fide. The vcflcls being anchored in this bay, the boats were fcnt to one of the iflands, where the men found twenty canoes, and their people hard by them on the (hore, (lark naked, with little plates, or eagles of gold about their necks. They exprefled no fymptoms of fear •, but, for three horfe-bells, gave a gold plate that weighed ten du- cats, and faid, there was great plenty of that metal upon the continent, at a very fmall ditlance from this place. Next day the boat's crew went alhore upon the main land, where thev met with ten canoes full of people, who, refufing to barter away their plates, two of them were taken, that the admiral might have a chance for acquiring fome material intelligence, by means of the Cariari interpreters •, and they confirm- ed what the iflanders had faid of the gold, which was at the diftance of two days journey up in the country. From this bay, the admiral {ailed into another hard by, called Aburena ; on the 17th he put to fea ; and arriving at the river Guaiga, twelve leagues from hence, commanded the boats to be rowed afhore, where they were violently aflaulted by above one hundred Indians, who ran furioufly into the water up to the middle, brandilhing lances, blow- ing horns, beating drums, and throwing Tea- water toward the Spaniards, at whom they likewife fpurted chewed herbs, with marks of deteftation and defiance. Notwithftanding thefe menaces, they were appeafed by the peaceable behaviour of the Chriftians, and for a few horfe-bells, exchanged fixteen gold plates, to the value of one hundred and fifty ducats. Next day, however, they lay in ambufcade for the boats, and perceiving that nobody would venture to land without fecurity, they rulhed into the water, as they had done the preceding day, and even threaten- ed to throw their javelins, provided the boats, th^at lay upon their oars, would not return to the L 4 i^Jps* 152 THE FOURTH VOYAGE (hips. The Spaniards, cxafjperated at their infolent behaviour, wounded one of them in the arm with an arrow, and at the fame time the admiral fired a cannon, the explofion of which terrified them to fuch a degree, that they fled with precipitation. Then four men landing, invited them to return by figns, in confcquence of which they laid down their arms \ and coming back, exchanged their plates very peace- ably. Having procured famples of what this part of the country produced, the admiral proceeded to Catiba v and cafting anchor in the mouth of a great river, perceived the natives aflembling by tlie found of drums and horns. They fent two of their number along-fide in a canoe, and thcfe having difcourfed with the Cariari interpreters, came on board without any appreiienfion, and gave their plates to the admi- ral, who in return prefented them with fome baubles. This canoe was fucceeded by another, with three men, who behaved in the fame manner. And amity being thus eftablifbed, the Spaniards went afhore, and found a great fiumber of Indians with their king, who differed in nothing from the reft, but in being covered with one leaf of a tree, bccaufe it rained very hard. This fovereign, by exchanging his plate, fet an example to his fubjeds, who bartered to the number of nineteen, of pure gold. Here the Chrif- tians faw a great mafs of wall, feemingly built of ilone and lime •, and as this was the Hrft part of the Indies where the admiral difcovered figns of ftrudure, he brought away a piece of it as a memorial. Sailing to the eaftward, he paffed Cobravo ; and the wind blowing frelh, held on his courfe to five towns of great trade, among which was Veragua, where the Indians faid the gold was gathered, and the plates manufadured. Next day he arrived at a town called Cubiga, from which he continued his voyage to another, which he called Porto-bello, or the Beautiful harbour 5 becaufe it is fpacious, popu- w di tf OF COLUMBUS. »53 lous, and encompaffcd by a well cultivated coun- try. He entered this harbour on the 2d day of No- vember, paflTing between two fmall idaiiJs^ within which the (hips lay clofe to the fhore : and for feven days, during which he continued here, on account of the rain and bad weather, canoes came conftantly on board, with people from the adjacent country, to barter provifions, and bottoms of iine-fpun cotton, which they exchanged for pins, points, and other triBes. On the 9th, he failed from Porto-bello, eight leagues to the eaftward j but, next day, was forced back four leagues by ftrefs of weather ; and putting in among the iflands near the continent, where now the town of Nombre de Dios (lands, called the place Puerta de Baftimentos, or the Port of Provifions, be- caufe all thofe fmall iflands were covered with grain. A boat well manned being lent in purluit of a ca- noe, the Indians were fo terrified, tijat they leaped into the fea, and efcaped, notwithdanding all the efforts of the Spaniards ; for when the boat ap- proached any one of them, he dived like a duck, and came up again at the didance of a bow-(hot from the place. Here the admiral continued, refitting the (hips, and mending the cafks, till the 23d of November i when he failed eaftward to a place called Guiga, where the boat's crew being fent on (hore, found above three hundred Indians, ready to trade for fuch provifions as they had, and fome fmall pieces of gold that hung at their ears and nofes : but without tarry- ing in this place, he put into a fmall port, which he called Retrete, or Retired, becaufe it could not con- tain above fix (hips, and the width of the mouth did not exceed fifteen or twenty paces, though the rocks on both fides appeared above water as (harp as dia- monds, and the channel between them was not to be fathomed. The admiral was decoyed into this con- ined harbour, by the mifreprefentations of thofe who were I 154 THE FOURTH VOYAGE were fent to view it, and who gave a favourable ac- count of it, becaufe here the (hips muft lie clofc to the (horc, fo as that they would have the better op- portunity of trading with the natives. He lay nine days in this narrow place, to which he was confined by bad weather ^ and at firft the Indians came very familiarly to trade, until they were provoked, by the infolencf and diiTolute behaviour of the feamen, to a£ts of open hoftility. As their numbers daily in- crcafed, their courage rofe to fuch a pitch of refolu- tion, that they came down and threatened to board the (hips ; and the admiral, having in vain attempted to appeafe them by patience and civility, found it abfolutely neceflfary to alter his deportment, in order to convince them of his importance. He therefore ordered his people to fire fome pieces of cannon, and tiiey anfwered this noife with (houts, threlhing the trees with ftaves, as if they defpifed the explpfion, which they believed to be the effeft of thunder, ufed to terrify them. He therefore loaded one of the great guns with Ihot, and pointing it at a number afTembled on an hillock, the ball fell in the midfk of them, and foon made them fcnfible there was fome- thing more than empty noife : for they inftantly fled with fuch confternation, that for the future they durfl: not appear even behind the mountains. Xhefe people were the beft fhaped Indians of any he had yet feen ; tall and thin, wahout thofe prominent bellies, fre- quent in this country. In this harbour were abun- dance of very large crocodiles or alligators, that fleep aftiore, and emit a mufky fcent, and are fo ravenous, that they will devour men if they can take them at advantage, though they are fearful and cowardly when attacked. The admiral perceiving, that the violent winds from the eaft and north-eaft continued to blow with- out ccafing, and that he could no longer trade with the inhabitants of this coaft, he refolved to return and fatisfy himftlf of the truth of what was reported, con- OF COLUMBUS. 155 concerning the ^ijncs of Veragua 5 and therefore, on the 5th of December, failed back to Porto-bello. Next day, the wind fhifted to the weft, bqt as he did not think this was a fettled gale, he bore up againft it for fome days, during which tl>e weathep was fo very unfettled and unruly, that the ^il'>rscoul4 fcarce ftand upon deck ; for the (ky feemed to be finking in a deluge of rain, the whole air appeared like a furnace of lightning, and the thunder roared fo inceffantly, that the people miftook it for the firing of guns, as fignals of diftrefs. The men, who were conftantly wet to the fkin, and expofed to thefe dread- ful peals and flafhes, began to be terriBed, and to defpair ; efpecially as the wind Ihifted in their teeth whenever they endeavoured to make any harbour : and in the midft of this danger and diftraftion, they were in the utmoft danger of being overwhelmed by a dreadful water-fpout that rofe from the fea to the clouds, as thick 2^s an ordinary butt, whirling about, j^nd dalhing with a moft tremendous roar. To com- plete their misfortunes, they loft fight of the Ihip Caino, which they concluded was loft, until they faw her again at the end of three difmal dark days, m which Ihe had been obliged to caft anchor, and after- wards was driven to fea, with the lofs of her anchor and boat. The (hips were almoft (battered to pieces by the tempeft, and the men quite fpent with cold, hunger, and fatigue, when they were relieved by a calm that laded two days ; during which they were furrounded by an infinite number of (harks, fo greedy, that they would bite at the hook though baited only with a red rag. Many of thefe were caught, and out of the belly of one, was taken an entire tortoife, that afterwards )ived on board ; and from another, the whole head of a fhark which we had cut off and thrown into the fea : fo that the individuals of this fpecies fecm to prey upon one another. Though fome of the people Jooked upon them as ominous fi(h, and all allowed they 156 THE FOURTH VOYAGE they furnilhed a very indifferent meal, yet the lailors ate them with great eagernefs : for by this time they had been eight months at fea, and confumed all their provifion, except the bifcuit i which, from the heat and moifture of the climate, was fo full of maggots, that many delayed eating till it was dark, that they might not fee the vermin they were obliged to fwallow. On the 17th, the admiral entered an harbour, three leagues eafl of Pennon, which the Indians call Huiva, and there permitted his men to repofe themfelves for three days ; during whic) , they perceived the in- habitants lived in huts, buil'. upon the tops of trees, a ftrange cuftom, which muft have been owing to their fear of wild beafts, land-floods, or enemies of their own fpecies ; for all along that coaft, the dif- ferent nations are at war with one another. From this harbour or bay, he failed on the 20th •, but no fooner was he at fea, than the temped began to rage again, and he was driven into another port: from whence he took his departure on the 3d, the weather being fomewhat more moderate. But as if Provi- dence had refolved to thwart the expedition, the wind frelhened and became contrary, fo that he was bandied about, to the aftonifhment and terror of every perfon on board, until he made the harbour where he had been before, on the 12th of the fame month. Here he flaid from December the 26th, till the 3d of January, when, having repaired the Ihip Gallega, and taken on board a fufficient quantity of Indian corn, wood, and water, he failed back toward Veragua, with contrary winds and foul weather. In- deed, he was fo perplexed and fatigued with currents, tempefts, and unfavourable gales, beiween Veragua and Porto-bello, that he called it Coita de Contraftes, or the Coaft of Contention. Two days after, he caft anchor near a river which the Indians called Yebra, and the adnjiral Bethlem ; becaufc he arrived on the feaft of the Epiphany. To the OF COLUMBUS. ^57 the weftward of this was the river of Veragua, the water of which was very (hallow, but the boats went up to the town where the gold mines were faid to be. At firft the Indians flood upon their guard, and threat- ened to oppofe the landing of the Spaniards ; but an Indian interpreter going alhore, and giving a favour- able account of the Chriftians, they were appeafed, and bartered away twenty gold plates, fome hollow pieces, like joints of reeds, and fome grains that ne- ver were melted, which they faid they had gathered a great way oflF, upon uncouth mountains. On the 9th of June, the admiral's (hip and the Bifcayna went up the river Bethlem, and the Indians came to exchange fuch things as they had, particu- larly fifh •, which at certain times of the year, come from the fea up thefe rivers in incredible numbers : they likewife bartered fome gold for pins, beads, and hawks bells. Next day they were joined by the other two (hips, that could not come in the preced- ing day, for want of water at the river's mouth. On the third day after their arrival, Diego Bartholo- mew went up ti>e river with the boats, to the town of Quibio ; fo the Indians call their king •, who hear- ing of the lieutenant's defign, came down in his ca- noes to meet him, and they received each other in a very friendly manner. Next day, he went on board to vifit the admiral, who made him fome prefents, and he retired very well pleafed, after a converfa- tion that lafted a whole hour, during which his people exchanged fome gold for bells, and other toys. On the 24th, the river fuddenly fwelled to a fur- prifing pitch, and ruflied down with fuch impetuo- fity, that the admiral's (hip parted her cable, and running foul of the Gallega, brought the fore-maft by the board, and both veffels were in great danger of perifliing. This fudden rife of the river, was fup- pofed to proceed from fome terrible Ihower that had fallen upon the mountains of Veragua, which were named isn THE FOURTH VOYAGE named St. Chriftopher's, becaufe the tops of thcrii reached above the clouds. jj. - On the 6th of February, the fhips being caulked and refitted, Diego Bartholomew, and fi^ty-eight men, were fent in boats to the river of Veragua, and rowing up, arrived at the cacique's town, where he ftaid a whole day, inquiring the nearcft way to the mines : in confequence of the intelligence he received, they travelled four leagues and an half 5 and next day, arriving at the place to which they were dire6ted, gathered fome gold about the roots of treesj which were very thick, and of a prodigious height. As the fole aim of this journey was to get information concerning the mines, they immediately returned to the (hips, very well pleafed with the fample : though, as they afterwards learned, the mines from which they had picked it were not thofe of Veragua, which lay much nearer, but of Urira, a town be- longing to a people at war with Quibio, -who had directed the Spaniards to his enemy's mines inftead of his own. On the 14th of February 1503, Diego Bartholo- mew, with fifty men, followed by a boat, marched to the river of Urira, feven leagues weftward from Bethlem, and next day were met by the cacique, attended by twenty men, who prefented him with provifions, and fome gold plates were exchanged. Having relied a while in this place, the Chriftians were conducted to the town, where they were hof- pitably entertained with viduals and lodging ; and, foon after their arrival, vifited by the cacique of Dururi, a neighbouring town : he was attended by a great number of his people, who brought fome plates to exchange, and told the lieutenant, that up the country there were caciques who had abundance of gold, and a great number of men armed like the Spaniards. Next day Diego Bartholomew fent back twenty mcQ to the Ihips, and with the other thirty, pro- ceeded OF COLUMBUS. ' 159 cceded towards Zobabra, where he faw above fix leagues of ground full of maiz, and cultivated like corn fields. Here he was kindly entertained by the natives, as well as at another town, called Cateba, where he purchafed fome plates : but having now advanced a great way from the fiiips, without finding any harbour along the coaft, or river larger than that of Bcthlem, where he could conveniently fettle a co- lony, according to the intention of the admiral, he returned with a good quantity of gold, to the place from which he had taken his departure, and in which a refolution was now taken, to make a fettlement, with eighty men under his command. Proper dif- pofitions being made, they began to build houfes, about a cannon's ftiot from the mouth of the river Bethlem, the materials being timber, and the thatch confiding of the leaves of palm-trees that grew along the (horc. Several pieces of cannon, with powder, provifion, and other neceflaries, were lodged in a large magazine erected for that purpofe; while a quantity of wine, bifcuit, oil, vinegar, cheefe, and grain, was depofited on board of the (hip Galiega, to be left with cordage, nets, hooks, and other filh- ing-tackle, for the uie of the colony. Indeed thefe laft could not fail of being fignally ufeful, in a coun- try that abounds with fuch quantities of fifli. The natives took them with hooks made of tortoife-fliell, which they cut with a thread. Among others, the fea produces a very fmall fifh, called titi, which fly up to the furface of the water, where they are caught in little matts, or fmall nets, and being wrapped in leaves, are dried in an oven, fo that they may be. kept for a long time. They likewife catch abundance of pilchards, which being puifued by other filTi, will leap two or three paces upon the dry land ; though they are alfo taken in another mr.nner. In the mid- dle of their canoes, from fteni to ftern, the Indians raife a partition of palm-tree leaves, two yards high, and plying about the river, make a noiie by beating the j^ THK FOURTH VOYAGE the (hore with their oars, fo as to frighten the pil^ chards, which, miftaking the leaves for land, leap upon them in great quantities, and fall into the ca- noe. Befides thefe, they take great numbers of other fi(b, that pafs along the coad in fhoals, and bake them, as already obferved. As for liquor, they have plenty of a very palatable kind of beer made of maiz i and agreeable wine, made of the juice and pith of a certain kind of palm-tree, as well as of a fruit that refembles a pine apple. Every thing being completed for the maintenance of the new colony, the admiral rcfolved to return to Spain without further delay ; when his voyage was effectually retarded, by want of water to carry him cut of the river, as well as by the terrible furf that beat upon the Ihore, threatening immediate deftruc- tion to any veflel that (hould approach it. This cir- cumftance was the more unfortunate, as the rains, which alone could fwell the river, were pad, and the bottoms of the Ihips worm-eaten through and through. To complete the difafter, it was calually difcovered by means of an interpreter, that Quibio intended to fet fire to the houfes of the Chriftians, who had made a fettlement in his dominions, contrary to the incli- nations of him and his people. In this dilemma, the admiral concerted meafures with his brother, for tak- ing the cacique prifoner, together with his principal men, and carrying them to Spain as hoftages for the good behaviour of his fubjeds. Accordingly on the 30th of March, the lieutenant, with above feventy men, proceeded to the village of Veragua, conlifting of ftraggling houfes ; and at a frnall diftance from it, received a meflage from the cacique, defiring he would come up to his houfe, which ftoou by itfelf on a hill : notwithftanding this inumation, he refolved to go up with five men only, after having ordered the reft to follow, two and two, at fome diftance, and when they ftiould hear a mulket fired, to befet the houfc, that nobody might efcape. Quibio meeting him him OF COLUMBUS. i6i him at the door, was immediately feized by the lieu- tenant, and the muiket being fired, the reft of the Spaniards furrounded the hou(e, in which were about thirty perfons, who feeing their prince taken, made no oppofition. But as they were conveying the ca- cique on board, he contrived to jump out of the boat into the river ; and as it began to be dark, it was impoflible to hear or fee how he went afliore : fo that after a fruitlefs fearch, they were fain to row on board of the admiral, overwhelmed with Ihame and vexation. * Next day the lieutenant, finding it would be im- pradicable to overtake the fugitive Indians, returned with his men to the (hips, and prefented the plunder of Quibio's houfe, worth three hundred ducats in plates and eagles, to his brother ; who, having de- ducted the fifth part for their catholic majefties, di- vided the reft among thofe who went upon the expe- dition. The colony being now fettled under proper regu- lations, and :he river fwelled by the rains, Columbua ordered his fhips to be lightened, and towed by the boats over the ba '^ on which all the three ftruck, though without receiving much damage. They then took in every thing they had been obliged to unftow, and lay waiting for a fair wind to fail for Hifpaniola, from whence the admiral propofed to fend fupplies to his new fettiement. . In this interval, the boat pro- videntially went afhore, and contributed to the fifety of many Spaniards, whootherwifc mult have fallen a facrifice to the refentment of the Indians : for Qiiibio no focner perceived the (hips at fea, than he refolved to attack the fettiement •, and the woods, by which ic was fui rounded, facilitated the enterprife. But the lieutenant, who was a man of great relblution, fallied out upon the enemy, and fcven or eight of his people following his example, foon compelled the favages to retire into the wood, jufl: as the boat reached the Ihore : though not before they had killed a Spaniard, Vol. I. M and ^2 THE FOURTH VOYAGE and wounded feven, among whom was the !icutenant himfclf. Repeated attacks of this nature however coniinucd to reduce their numbers and to difpirit the furvivors. Mean while the admiral waited ten days for fair weather, that he might fend afhore the only boat that remained, for intelligence -, and in this interval, fome of the prifoners who had been confined in the hold, burll open the hatches in the night, and leaped into the fea, and the reft being difappointed in their hopes of efcaping in the fame manner, hanged them- felves in defpair; fo that now he had no hoUagcs, by virtue of whom he could make peace with Quibio. The weather ftill continuing boifterous, and the peo- ple being extremely impatient to learn the fate of their companions, Peter de le Defma, a pilot of Sevil, undertook tofwim alhore, provided he might be carried in the boat to the place where the furf be- gan to run high. His propofal being embraced by the admiral, was put in execution ; and he fwam off again with a circumftantial account of what had hap- pened, including a detail of divifions and diffenfions among the men : for Diego Bartholomew found it im- prafticable to maintain authority and fubordination, and they were unanimous in nothing but their refolu- tion to leave the place. They therefore begged the admiral would take them on board without delay, otherwife they would put to fea in their own veffel, rotten as flie was, and rather truft to the mercy of the waves and weather, than expofe themfelves to the barbarous refentment of the favages. In confequence of this information, Columbus refolved to ftay and take them on board \ and the weather becoming more favourable, they came off, with all their goods and effe6ts, in his boat and fome canoes lafhed together; fo that in two days nothing was left behind but the hulk of the (hip, which was fo much eaten by the worms, as to be unfit for fervice. ^ *- . The OF COLUMBUS. 263 The whole company beinp; thus re-aflemWec], to their mutual fatistadion, the admiral failed along the coaft to the eaftward, contrary to the opinion of all the pilots, who thought he might have rtra hed St. Domingo, by bearing away to the north : but he and his brother knew it was requifite to ply up to windward, before they could Itrike acrofs the gulph that divides the continent from Hifpaniola : anJ a'i he confulted his own judgment in this particular, the men began to murmur, from an apprt hcnfion, that he intended to fail diredlly for Spain, although he had not provifion fufficicnt for fucli a voyage. At Porto- bello he was obliged to leave the Ihip Bifcaina, which was fo leaky and worm-eaten, that Ihe could not pro- ceed j and turning up along tht- coaft, he paffcd Port Retrete, together with abundance of fmall iflands, which he denominated las Barbas : thence continuins: his courfe ten leagues, he, on the lit of May, 1503, took his departure from a place on the continent call- ed Marmora, and ftood to the northward, the wind and currents fetting from theeaft. The pilots and navigators on board affirmed, that he was to the eaftward of the Caribbc^j, but he him- felf was apprehenfive, that he fhould not be able to fetch Hifpaniola, and this fear was verified : for, on the loth, he defcried two very fmall low iflands, which he named Tortugas, from the abundance of turtle found here, and in the neighbourhood ; and on the 1 2th, after a run of thirty leagues northwards, arrived at the iflands called Jardin de la Reyna, than lie ten leagues to the fouthward of Cuba. By this time, the Ihips being leaky and crazy, the men were harraflTcd at the pump, though little able to fupport fuch fatigue, bccaufe their pro vifions were now reduced to a little bifcuit, oil, and vinegar; and in this me- lancholy fituation, they were overtaken by a dreadful llorm, in which the (hip Bermuda ran foul of the ad- miral, and both had like to have foundered : however, they got clear of each other with much difficulty, and JM 2 dropped 164 THE FOURTH VOYAGE dropped all their anchors, thougli ic was the IhceC anchor alone that brnafrhtthcm up j and in the morn- ing there was but one ilran.i of the cable uncut, lb that if this had given way, they mufl: have periihcd upon the (harp rocks. The wind being abated, he failed to an Indian town on the coaft of Cuba, called Mattaia, where having purchall-d fome refrelhments, as the winds, currents, and condition of the (hips would not permit him to bear up for Hifpaniola, he flood over to Ja- maica, pumping and baling all the way. Yet, not- withftanding their utmoll efforts, the water rofe up almoft to the deck ; and when day appeared, he put inro an harbour called Puerto Bueno, but finding no fredi water in this place, he fleered to the ealtward in- to another, called Santa Gloria, which is enclofed by rocks, where finding it impofTjble to keep the (hips afloat, he ran them aihore along-fide of each other, and proppinjT them up on each fide, fo as to keep them upii;.jir, oidcied fheds to be made on the poop and forccallle, under which the men might be fecure from the inclemencies of the weather, as well as the attempts of the Indians. This expedient he chofc ratlier than tliat of fortifying himfelf on fhore, be- caufe he (hould be more able to reftrain his feamen from irregularities, which might have incenfed the natives, on whom he entirely depended for fubfift- tnce, his own provifions Iiaving been either fpoiled or confumed. As the natives rcforted in great num- bers to the (hips with what they had to barter, he ap- pointed two perfons to fuperintend the marker, and prevent abufes or frauds of either fide, as well as to divide the purchafe equally among the people, that nothing mighu be embezzled or engroffed. His re- gulations were alike .'greeable to his own men, who were plentifully fupplied ; and to the Indians, who exchanged two little animals like rabbits, which they calkd hutics, for a bit of tin, and cakes of their bread named zabi, for two or three glafs beads, though for 7 OF COLUMBUS. • 1^5 for a quantity of an^ tlifng, thry deceived a ha\vk*s bell i and a cacique or great man was Ibmetimes pre- fented with a fmall looking glafs, jcd cap, or pair of fciflars. Thefe neceflTary (leps being taken, the admirars next care was, to confult with his officers about the means of tranfporting themlelvrs to Hifpaniola ; and, after mature deliberation, it was refolvcd, that two canoes (hould be fent thither, with an account of the misfortune which had happened to the admiral, and a letter to th*':> governor, dcfiring that a fhip might be fent immediately to his relief. The ca- noes being chofen for this dangerous expedition, James Mcndez de Segura, the admiral's chief fecre- tary, embarked in one, with fix Chrillians, and ten Indians to row •, and Bartholomew Fiefco, a Genoefe gentleman, went on board of the other, with the like number of hands ; this lad having orders to re- turn immediately with the news of their fafe arrival, while Mendez (hould continue his route over land to St. Domingo. In a little'time after the departure of thefe canoes, the men who were left began to grow fickly, in confequence of the fatigue they had undergone, and the change of provifion •, and (which is the cafe on all fuch occafions) a fpiric of difcontent diffufed it- felf among them. They now caballed and murmu- red in private againft the admiral, faying, he had no intention to return to Spain, where he was in difgrace with their catholic majefties -, nor could he have any hopes of afliftance from Hifpaniola, the governor of which had already refufed him (belter in his diftrefs : and laftly, they fuggefted that Men- dez and F'iefco were both loft, otherwife the latter would have returned by this time, according to his promife. For thefe rea'bns, it was their bufinefs to confult their own fafety, by leaving the admiral, who was now lame in all his limbs with the gout, and follow their companions to Hifpaniola, where M 3 * they ^^ •^_,y>Q. <^^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 I i.25 *■ u |^|K6 -► ^ Hioliographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR.N.Y. 14SM (716)872-4503 SS V <^ 4 ii I ^ ^^ K<^ w i66 THE FOURTH VOYAGE they would be the better received by the commendary 1 arcs, on account of their having abandoned Colunn- bus, whom he hated. Thefe arguments^were fuggefted and encouraged by two brothers, called Porras, who aflurcd them of protedion on their return to Spain, from the biihop D. John de Fonfeca, as well as from the treafurer Morales, by whom their filter was kept as a concubine: and fuch effe6t had the infinuations of thcfe ringleaders, one of whom was captain of the fhip Bermuda, and the other comptroller of the iquadron, that eight and forty of the men were per- fuaded to follow them at all events, and to provide themfelves with every thing neceffary for the exe- CLiiion of their purpofe. . On the 2d day of January, captain Francis de Por- ras, whom they had chofen lor their leader, afcending the quarter-deck, where the admiral lay confined to his bed, ^* What is the reafon, my lord, (faid he) ** that you will not return to Spain, but keep us in ^* this place to periCh ?" To this infolent interroga- tion, Columbus, fufptdling the confpiracy, very calmly replied. That he did not fee how they could return to Spain, until they fhould be affifted with a velTel from Hifpaniola-, that no man w^s more de- firous thm he to be gone, as well on account of his pwn private intereft, as for the fafety of his people j and that, for their fatisfadlion, he would again fum- mon all his officers to confult about the means of sra- •.. .. . .• *** tifying their inclination. This judicious remonftrance had no weight with Porras, who faid, it was now no time to talk -, for that he (hould either embark ini- mediately, or ftay there by hjmfelf : then crying with a l.>ud voice, " I am going to Spain with thole that ?' will follow me," all his adherents joined in the exclamation, and immediately took poffeflion of the forccaftle, poop, and round-tops, fo that uproar and univerfal confufion enfued. The adtpiral, though jame in bed, hearing the nqife of t is tumult, ftarted pp in order to queU the mutiny, but vyas ^ith-held by m ar wl an OF COLUMBUS. 167 by his fervants, who were afraid that he would be murdered by the confpirators. They likewife dif- armed and confined his brother Diego Bartholomew, who had bravely rufhed out upon the mutineers, with an half pike in his hand, and entreated Porras to be gone, without doing further mifchief, or making any attempt upon the life of Columbus, for which they could not fail of being one day feverely punifhed. He did not think pn;per to regard this caution, but feizing ten canoes which the admiral had purchafed from the Indians, embarked with all his followers, who exprefled as much joy as if they had been al- ready landed in Sp;iin. Upon this occafion, a good number of the reft, who were not concerned in the combination, feeing thcmfelves abandoned by their fellows, and defpairing of relief, defired to be taken on board, to the infinite forrow and mortification of the admiral, and thofe few who remained with the fick. In all probability, had the people been in health, he would have been deferted by the whole company, except his brother, and his own faithful fervants. The mutineers in the canoes rowed towards the eaft part of Jamaica, from whence Mendez and Fiefco had taken their departure, and in the way committed all manner of outrages upon the poor In- dians, advifing them to apply for redrefs and repay- ment to the admiral, who was the caufe of all the injuries they fuftained, and to put him to death in cafe he fhould refufe to give them fatisfaction : for his defign in ftaying, was no other than to fubjetSl and involve them in fuch mifery and oppreffion as he liad already entailed upon the inhalDitants of tlie other idand. Having in this manner done their endeavours to embroil the admiral with the natives, they began their voyage for Hifpaniola, with fome Indians, whom they compelled to go on board every canoe as rowers. They had not made four leagues from land, when the wind, which was contrary, began to frelhen, and ■ I ■ M 4 the j62 the fourth VOYAGE the Tea to rife ; they fhipped fome water, and being unacquainted with the methods of managing thofe yeffels, refolved to lighten them, by murdering the Indians, and throwing their bodies into the fea. This inhuman fcheme was executed on fome, and the red: leaping over-board, fwam until they were weary; then hanging by the canoes to breathe a little, th^ barbarous ruSians cut off their hands ; fo that eighteen of thofe poor wretches perifhed in this deplorable planner ; and not one would have efcaped, had not they kept a few to fteer them back to Jamaica, as they now !thought it imprafticable to profecutc their voyage. When they landed, a council was held, \n which fpme propofed to take the advantage of the cafterly wind and currents, for running over to Cuba, from whence they could have a ftiort cut to Hifpaniola : other? were of opinion, that they Ihould Return, and make peace with their admiral, or de- prive him by force of the commodities and arms that were ftill in hispoffeflion : but by a majority of voices it was agreed, they Ihould wait f^^'r a calm, and put to fea agi^in directly for Hifpaniola. For this oppor- tunity they tarried a whole month, during which they ravaged the whole neighbourhood of Ar^maquique, which was the name of that town and diftridt, and having made two unfuccefsfiil efforts to perform the voyage, marched by land to the weftward, plunder- ing the defencelefs natives and the weak villages ii> )their way. With regard to the admiral, heej^erted all his ad- drefs and induftry to efface the bad imprelTions which the mutineers ha4 made among the Indians ; fo that |:hey continued to fupply him with provifions, while lie employed his care and humanity for the relief of the fick, until almoft all his people were recovered : but as the daily expence of fubfiftence had produ; -'pr^^-'-y wife 'A OF COLUMBUS. i. 1 »73 wife they would come and cake the whole by force of arms. This threat they adtually refolved to put in execu- tion, and marched down to an Indian village within a quarter of a league of the wrecks : and the admiral being informed of their defign, detached fifty men well armed, under the command of his brother, who had orders to expoliulate with the rebels, and refrain from a6bs of hoitility, unlefs he (hould be firfl: at- tacked. Diego Bartholomew, having reached a rifing ground within bow-ftiot of the mutineers, fent a meffage to their captain, defiring a conference ; but this condefcenfion was treated with contempt, as the cfFedt of fear, and they immediately fell upon his men in great confidence of vidory i fix of the boldeft hav- ing taken an oath to fight their way diredly to the lieutenant, whofe death they believed would foon difconcert his followers. However, they were dif- appointcd in their expeftation ; for, at the very firfl charge, five of the fix were flain, and among thefc the two firft perfons who drew their fwords on board in fupporc of the confpiracy. ; As for their leader, Francis de Porras, he was taken prifoner, and his people fo roughly handled, that they foon turned their backs, and fled with pre- cipitation ; fo that the lieutenant obtained a complete vidory, and returned to the fhips with a good num- ber of prifoners : he himfelf being wounded in the hand, and only one gentleman of hii: Jide having re- ceived an hurt with a fpear, of which he afterward died. Next day the fugitives fent a petition to the admiral, imploring his mercy, and promifing to fub- mit themfelves to his good pleafure -, and he imme- diately gave them a free pardon, and took them again into his protedion : but, in order to avoid future ani- mofities, and a fcarcity of provifions on board, he detained Porras in confinement, and appointed a pro- per perfon to command and lead them about the ifland, for the convenience of finding fubfiftence, in exchange 174 THE FOURTH VOYAGE exchange for commodities, with which they wcfd fupplied by his diredion. Among thofc of the fide of the admiral who fuf- fered in the engagement, was Peter de Lcdefma the jJilot, who fwam alhorc at Bethlem. This man, hav- ing received a number of wounds in the fray, fell over the rocks, and was not found till nejtf day in th6 evening, when the Indians, to their utter amazement, difcovered him alive. His fkull was laid open, fo that his brains appeared, his arm was almofl: cut off, the calf of one leg hung down to his ancle, and one foot was diced from the heel to the toes. Notwithftanding thefe defperate wounds, he frightened the Indians with ciirfes and threats in fuch a manner, that they fled from him with the utmoft confternation ; and his condition being known, the admiral ordered him to be attended by the furgeon ; and to the furprize of every one the man recovered and did well. All diflentions among the Spaniards being thus re- moved, the Indians grew more cautious of giving offence, and carefully fupplied them with provifion : and a year being elapfed fince the Chriftians were wrecked upon the ifland, the Ihip we have already mentioned, which Mendez bought with the admiral's money at St. Domingo, arrived in Jamaica. Colum- bus with his whole company, embarking on the 28th of June, fet fail for Hifpaniola, though the wind and current were contrary, and, after a troublefome voy- age, reached St. Domingo on the 13th of Augufl 1504. Here he was received with demonftrations of uncommon civility and regard by the governor, who lodged him in his own houfe, and fawned upon him with the mod abjed fubmiffions ; though this hofpi- tality was altogether affeftatiGq^; for he fet Porras at liberty, and threatened to punifh thofe wh6 were con- cerned in apprehending that rebel. When the ad- miral's fhip was refitted, and another hired for the convenience of his friends and followers, he failed for Europe on the 2d of September, and before he was - two OF COLUMBUS. ^75 two leagues at fea, the maft of the hired veflel coming by the board, he fent her back into the harboitr to be repaired, while ne himfelf proceeded on his voyage to Spain. During the paflage, he loft his own main-maft in a ftorm, and this damage being in fome meafure repair- ed by the (kill and aflivity of the lieutenant, (for the admiral was lame of the gout) they were after- ward expofed to another teitipelt, which carried away their foremaft, and in that condition the (hip arrived at the port of St. Lucar de Barrameda. Upon his landing, he was informed of the death of his generous patronefs queen Ifabella, which overwhelmed him with concern •, for though he was courteoufly received by Ferdinand, that prince began to think the advan- tages he had ftipulated for himfelf were too cenfider- able, and accordingly he propofed new terms, which, however, did not take efFed : for the negotiation was interrupted by the acceflion of King Philip to the throne of Caftile : and before Ferdinand returned to Valladolid, from whence he had {et out to meet his fon-in-law, Columbus, opprefled with infirmities and chagrin, yielded up the ghoft in that city. His body was afterward, by the king's order, conveyed to Sevil ; where it was magnificently interred in the ca- thedral, and the place diftinguilhed by a monument, on which thefe words were infcribed : A Caftilia, y a Leon, Nuevo Mundo dio' Colon. ..'.A Which may be thus tranflated. To Caftile and Leon, -, -V A new World was given by Columbus, ^t' * t I . 1 n ' •i If . I .ar I iy6 1 DISCOVERIES of the SPANIARDS^ From the Death of C O L U M B U S, To the Expedition of HERNANDO CORTES. AS the firft difcoveries in America were made and purlued by the Spaniards, their tranfadions there have alfo been more extraordinary in their nature than thofe of any other nation ; by their infatiable ra- pacity after gold, and their inhuman meafures to ac- quire it : harafling the natives, ravaging and butcher- ing in the vileft manner where-ever they came. What renders thefe tranfadions the more curious, is the cir- cumihnce of their difcovering and fubduing two po- tent and civilized empires in thefe hitherto unknown regions •, viz. Mexico and Peru. That we may pre- ferve a connexion then in the detail, it will be proper briefly to trace the proceedings of the Spaniards in their new colonies from the death of Columbus, to the time of the expedition againft the Mexicans. Nicholas de Obando, who was governor of Hifpa- niola at the time when Columbus died, diftinguilhed himfelf by making draughts of the coafts from a furvey which he had caufed to be taken, and by dividing the Indians among the Spaniards, who confidered them merely as their vaflals. Gold was almoft 'their only purfuit, and fuch quantities of that valuable metal were found, that there were annually melted in the ifland, more than the value of 1 50,000 1. fterling i and yet this treafure was far from enriching or fatisfy- ing thofe who were employed in amaffing it. Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanifli gentleman, who had one of the provinces under his command, being informed by the Indians that St. John de Porto Rico was rich in gold, obtained a licence from Obando for planting a colony in it : and while he was thus em- ployed. , . Difcovcrics after Columbus's Death, &c. 177 ployed, Obando was recalled, and Don Diego Colum- bus came as his father's fucceflbr, to take upon him- fclf the government oF Hifpaniola. He brought with him from Spain a new governor for Porto Rico •, but Tonce difputing his authority, the young admiral fet them both afule, and appointed Michael Cerron go- vernor, and Michael Diaz his lieutenant. However, after this Ponce, by the intereft of his friend Obando, procured a commilfion from Spain, and returning to Porto Rico, eafily found pretences for feizing Cerron and Diaz, whom he fent prifoners into Spain, and then profecuted his defign of conquering the ifland. But though he found this a more difficult tafk than he had imagined, the poor Indians, at laft, notwithftand- ing the kindnefs with which they had treated him, were entirely enflaved, and at length extirpated. Soon after which Ponce de Leon was deprived of his poll •, for Cerron and Diaz, prefenting a petition to the court of Spain, and being ftrongly fupported by Columbus's ' intereft, were fent back in order to poflefs their former employments. Ponce being thus reduced to the ftate of a private man, fitted out two Ihips for making new difcoveries, and on the 2d of April 151 2, fell in with land unknown to the Spaniards, in the latitude of 30° 8', and believing it to be an iQand, named it Florida, from its beautiful appearance, and many pleafant groves, or from his difcovering it on Eafter Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pafcha Florida, it being the fined Jeafbn for flowers. 1 ' The ifland of Porto Rico is 120 miles in length and 60 in breadth ; its northern coaft is in 18 de- grees of latitude, and its fouthern in 17". The country confills of a pleaflng variety of hills and val- ieys, woods and meadows, abounding in all the tro- pical fruits, and well watered with fprings and rivers : but like other countries within the tropics, it has pe» riodical rains and fl:orms, and fometimes hurricanes between Midfummer and Michaelmas. Vol. I. N About 178 Difcoverics after Columbus's Death, About this time Alonzo de Ojeda, who had ferved under Chriflopher Columbus, petitioning for a patent for making new fettlements, obtained the promife of k^ grant of all that had been difcovered on the conti- nent : but Diego NicuefTa, a man of greater wealth, interppfmg, flopped the grant, and obtained half of it for himfelf. The court allowed the former all the country between Cape de la Vela and the gulph of Darien, under the name of New Andalulia ; and the latter, the country from that gulph, to Cape Gracias a Dios, under the name of Caftilla del Oro, or Golden Caftile : without any mention being made in thefe grants of Diego Columbus, to whom thofe countries of right belonged, on account of their being difcovered by his father. Each of thefe adventurers fitted out two veflels, with which they failed to St. Domingo in Hifpaniola, where they quarrelled about their refpedtive rights •, but their difputes being at length adjufted, they left that ifland in the latter end of the year 1510. Ojeda took on board Francis Pizarro, who afterward conquered Peru, and in a few days arrived at Cara- mari, lince called Carthagena, where the Indians were prepared to oppofe him, on account of the in- juries they had received from feveral Spanifh adven- turers ; who, under the pretence of trading with them, had bafely feized, carried off, and enflaved feveral of the natives. Thefe people were of a large ftature, the men wore their own hair down to their ears ; that of the women was very long, and both fexes were very expert at fliooting with the bow. Ojeda immediately fent them a few priefts, with fome of the Indians of Hifpaniola who fpoke their language ; thefe meflengers had orders to perfuade them to be peaceable, and fubmit to the Spanilh yoke, to leave off Lheir idolatry, cruelty, and other vices -, though Ojeda refolved, in cafe they proved obftinate, not only to make war upon them, but to make them flaves. 4 Ojeda to CoRTEs's Expedition. 179 of Ojeda began to barter with them for gold, with Spanifh toys ; but finding they were preparing to attack, him, he fell upon them ; made a great (laugh- ter •, took fome prifoners, and found a fmall quanti- ty of gold in fome of the towns of which he made himfelf matter. He then marched four leagues within land, where, being divided into fmall parties, they were every where cut off with flights of poifon- ed arrows. Ojeda and another were the only per- fons who efcaped, all the reft, amounting to feventy Spaniards, being flain. Happily for Ojeda, Nicuefla now appeared with his two veflels on the coaft, and was no fooner informed of what had happened, than he fent for his rival, and generoudy told him, that in this cafe they ought to forget their difputes, and only to re- member that they were Spaniards and gentlemen, and that he would therefore revenge his lofs. They accordingly united, and landed 400 men, marched againft the Indians, burnt the town of Yarbaco, feiz- ed a vaft number of prifoners, and as much gold as amounted to 7000 pieces of eight to each of the commanders. After this vidory they parted, in order to pur- fue their feparate plans. Ojeda fixed a fettlement on the eaftern promontory of the gulph of Darien, and gave the town the name of St. Sebaftian •, be- caufe that faint being faid to be martyred by the poifoncd arrows of the infidels, he thought him a fit patron to defend him from the like weapons of the Indians. But finding that the natives, were ex- afperated at his making a fettlement Qn tl^^ coaft, he fent captain Encifo in one of the ihij>s to H'f- paniola, with orders to bring him as large a fupply of men and provifions as poffible, and in the mean time drew intrenchments about the town, for his own fecurity. However, as he foon wanted necef- iaries, he was obHged to make excurfions into the country, bv which means many of his people were N 2 killed i8o Difcovcrics after Columbus's Death, killed by the poifoncd arrows of the natives ; the colony was reduced to a moft wretched condition ; and notwithftanding the arrival of confiderable fuc- cours and reinforcements, they were foon again re- duced to the utmoft diftrefs by war and famine. Hunger frequently forced them out, while the na- tives conftantly drove them back with the lofs of fome of their men : but from this terrible diftrefs they were relieved by the dexterity and prefence of mind of a very extraordinary man brought by Encifo. Nunez or Nugnez de Balboa, a perfon of good family, great abilities, and a liberal education, had formerly failed along that coaft with Baftidas, and had afterward obtained a good fettlement in Hif- paniola; where having committed fome irregulari- ties, he was in danger of being put to death. In thefe unfortunate circumftances he caufed himfelf to be put on board Encifo's fhip in a bread calk, and after having remained there fome days, ventured at laft to make his appearance, when the (hip was an hundred leagues at fea. The captain, who had been ordered not to carry any offenders out of the ifland, was extremely vexed at feeing him, and threatened to fet him on (hore in the firft defert place he came to -, but the principal perfons on board interceding for him, Encifo was at laft pacified, and granted him his protedlion, which however did not efface, from Nunez's memory, the ufage he had re- •ceived. ^-'ir ,r^:'\ .y.'S^ -.:y/> v- - - '■^r^:^y^^^' This perlbn, obferving that the company were in tiefpair, and knew not how to aft, endeavoured to encourage them, by maintaining that they were not in fo defperate a condition as they imagined ; obfer- ' ving tiiat vfhen he was upon this coaft before, with 'Baftidas, they failed to the bottom of the gulph, where they faw a very large town, fituated in a 'Iruitful foil, and in a fine climate: that it was in - • deed inhabited by warlike Indians ; but as they did • • not to CoRTEs's Expedition. i8i not make ufe of poifoned arrows, he advifed them to get off their (Iranded brigancines, and endeavour to fail thither. This advice being approved, was immediately followed i and they failed to the river called by the Indians Darien, where having viewed the place, they found every thing according to his defcription. The inhabitants and their cacique, being informed that the Spaniards were coming, fecured their wives and children, and with 500 men waited for the invaders on a little hill : but the Spaniards fell upon them, foon put them to flight, and then proceeded to the town, which to their great joy was full of provi- fions. The next day they marched up the country and the neighbouring mountains, and found many houfcs ; but no inhabitants, they being all fled. They however feized veflTels, houfliold goods, fhort petticoats of cotton, great quantities of cotton, both fpun and unfpun, and about 10,000 pieces of flne gold. ' ' The fuccefs of this enterprize gained Nunez much reputation, and he began to be in very high efteem. It was now unanimoufly agreed to fettle a colony there, and to call it Santa Maria el Antiqua del Da* rien, or St. Mary the Ancient of Darien. The firft being the name of a church at Seville, and the lat- ter the Indian name of the river. Nunez now fecretly contrived in concert with his friends, to depole Encifoj who himfelf foon for- warded this fcheme, by giving orders that no man (hould trade with the Indians for gold, upon pain of death -, which raifing a fufpicion that he intended to monopolize the trade of that valuable metal, they threw off all fubjeftion to him, alledging that his authority was expired, as they were out of the limits of Ojeda's government. They now chofe magif- trates like thofe in Spain -, Nunez de Balboa and Zamadis were elected Alcaldes, and Valdivia was appointed Kegidore ^ but foon diiliking this form . .;.. • N 3 of i82 Difcoveries after Columbus's Death, of governmefit, new debates arofe, which were ter- minated by the arrival of Rjderic Henriquez de Colmenares with two Ihips, with provifions, mili- tary (lores, and 70 men on board. This officer, who was carrying fupplies to Ni- cuefla, had put into a port at 50 or 60 leagues dif- tance from this place, and fending his men on fhore to take in water, they were fuddenly attacked by 70 Indians, who wounded 45 of his people with their poifoned arrows, and ftaved the boat. The Spaniards however fwam to the fhips, though all of them died of their wounds, except one. Seven of the Spaniards however hid themfelves in a great hol- low tree, in order to fwim to the fhip at night ;j but thofe on board fuppofing they had been flain, fet fail for the bay of Uraba, or Darien, in fearch of NicuefTa. Colmenares meeting no body on the eaft fide of the bay, where he expected to have found either Ojeda's or NicuciTa's men, he was much furprized, and fufpedted that they were all dead : he however caufed fome pieces of cannon to be fired, and fires to be lighted on the tops of the rocks, which being obferved by the fettlement at Santa Maria, they made fignals, upon which he came to them, as we have already related ; and ge- neroufly diftributing his provifions among them without diftindlion, brought them to agree to fend for Nicuefla, in order to make him their governor. We fiiall now return to Diego Nicuefla, who* after his leaving Alonzo de Ojeda, whom he had fo generoufly aflifted, met with a violent tempeft, -when Lopez de Olano, his lieutenant, perceiving the fhips ieparated, formed the defign of fetting up for himfelf, and leaving his patron to fhift as he could : but this failing, he failed to Veragua, the place of rendezvous, where he endeavoured to per- fuade the people to abandon their original defign, and to return to Hifpaniola, alledging that Nicuef- fa, and the men on board with him, had doubtlefa perilhcd* to Cor TEs's Expedition. 183 pcrifhed. Mean while a (hailop entered the port with four men on board, who brought advice that Nicuefla had been ftranded upon the coaft; and having marched a great way with incredible fatigue, was now on Ihore with his followers in a mod mife- rable condition. At hearing this news Olano's heart relented, and he immediately difpatched the Ihal- lop with provifions and refrefhments, which faved Nicuefla and his men from perifhing with hunger : but this feafonable relief did not irt the leaft Ibften that governor's refcntment againft his lieutenant, whom he put in irons, and threatened to fend him in that condition to Spain. * Nicuefla now fettled a colony on the banks of the river Belem or Bethlehem •, but foon became in fuch want of provifions, that leaving only a part of his men there, he failed with the reft to Porto Bello : when the Indians not fuffering his people to land, he was obliged to fteer two or three leagues farther to the port called by Columbus, the Bafti- mentos ; and as foon as he entered it cried out. Pa- remus aqui en il nombre de Dios ; that is. Let us ftay here in the name of God -, whence the place was called Nombre de Dios. Then immediately landing, he began to ereft a fortrefs. Nicuefla being foon reduced to the fame fituation as in the former colony, was obliged to fend one of his veflels to Hilpaniola, to intreat Columbus to grant him afllftance •, but fcarce was this vefllel failed, when that with Colmenares arrived with the above meflage. This captain was fo amazed at feeing Nicuefla and his people lean, ragged and bare-footed, that he could not forbear fliedding tears, efpecially at hearing how many had died, and the great dif- after they had fuftained •, and therefore immediate- ly endeavoured to comfort Nicuefla, by telling him, that the people of Santa M^ria defired he would ^ome and govern them •,• that they poflefled a plea- N 4 fant e' iS4 Difcovcries after Columbus's Death, fant and fertile country, had plenty of provifions, and were in no want of gold. NicuelTa, now recovering his fpirits, returned thanks to heaven for this unexpeded news ; but foon forgetting his own miferable condition, and that thele people had voluntarily made him an offer of becoming their governor and protedor, he was fo imprudent as publickly to declare, that he would take all their gold from them, and piinifh them for landing within the limits of his grant. Nor was this his only error •, for being defirous of viewing fjme iflands that lay in the way, he fuffered a caraval to fail before him, in which were perfons who acquain- ted the colony with thefe ungenerous expreffions ; upon which they changed their refolutions, and re- folved not to fuffer him to come among them. Nicuefla having fpent-eight days among the ifl- ands, was greatly lurprized on his anchoring at the landing place at Santa Maria, to find many of the Spaniards on the (hore -, and at his being ordered by one of them, in the name of all the rclt, to return to Nombre de Dios, he defired they would hear him, and for that purpofe the next day came on fliore» when the people attempting to fcize him, he efcaped by flight. Nicueflfa now intreated that in cafe they would not accept him for their governor, he might be at leaft admitted as a companion ; which they refufing, he begged they would keep hinrj as a prifoner, fince he had rather die than go back to ftarve at Nombre de Dios. But notwithftanding this, they cruelly forced him and 17 of his men in- to an old rotten bark, with orders to return to the place from whence they came, on pain of being funk where they were. There is no doubt of their having complit i with this inhuman order, but they were never feeh afterward. After the departure of this unhappy man, Nunez de Balboa difl:inguiflied himfelf as a prudent gover- nor J he made great difcQverics \ was the firfl: Euro- pean to CoRTEs's Expedition. 185 Pean who faw the South Sea, and prepared the way ft)r the conqueft of Peru. As his hiftory has there- fore a clofe conned:ion with that conqueft, we (hall place it immediately before our account of that great event •, and proceed now to thofe events which pre- pared the way to the fubjedbion of the Mexicans. Though the governments bellowed upon the above adventurers, were fo many violations of the juft rights of the admiral ^on Diego Columbus, he was very much blamed fd' not endeavouring to aflift them to the utmoft of his power : and his enemies made ufe of this complaint at the court of Spain, which always looked upon him with jealoufy ; and therefore readi- ly liftened to any accufation brought againft him. Of this the admiral was ib fenfible, that he left no (lone I'oturned to fecure to himfelf thefe countries to which he had juft pretenfions, from the contradt made with his father. Being informed at the beginning of the year 1 5 1 1 , that the court was very defirous of having a colony planted in the great ifland of Cuba, he refolved to be beforehand with them, and to fend a body of men thither under the command of a perfon whom he could truft : that having a lieutenant there of his own, the court might have no pretence for making a grant of it to any more adventurers, as they had done of that part of the continent difcovered by his father, and even of the ifland of Jamaica j which however he had recovered. For this purpofe he made choice of James Velafquez, the wealthieft and moft efteem- ed of all the firfl Spanilh inhabitants in Hifpaniola. Before we proceed it may not be improper to ob- ferve, that the province of Guatiaba lying next to Cuba, and the diftance between the two points be- ing pnly 1 8 leagues •, many of the Indians of Hifpa- niola had pafled over in their canoes, and among them a cacique of the province of Guatiaba called Hatuey. He was a man of bravery and prudence, he took as mmy of his men as polTible, and fettled on the neare(t ^ country 1 86 Difcovcrics after Columbus's Death, country called Mayci, where he treated the people as fubjeds, but not as flaves. This cacique, rearing that the Spaniards would one time or other pafs into Cuba, kept fpies in order to know what was done in Hifpaniola. Being at length informed of the admi- ral's defign, he aflembled the mod warlike of his people, and putting them in mind of the many fuf- ferings they had endured under the Spaniards, told them that they committed thefe outrages for the fake of a great lord of whom they were very fond, and whom he would Ihew them. Then taking fome gold out of a little palm-tree baflcet added, " This is the lord ♦' whom they adore, him they follow, and as you *' have already heard, are coming hither .in fearch *' of him : let us therefore make a feftival and dance " to him, that when they come he may order them ** not to hurt us." They accordingly began to ling and dance. At length Hatuey reminded them, that though they fhould conceal this lord of the Chriftians in their very bowels, the Spaniards would find him out, and that they ihould therefore caft him into the midft of the river, which was accordingly done. ^ The Spanifh inhabitants of Hifpaniola were no fooner informed that Diego Velafquez was going to plant a colony in Cviba, than many of them reiblved to accompany him, and about 300 men aflembled in the town of Salvatierra de la Zavana, at the ex- tremity of Hifpaniola, in order to embark on board four Ihips. From thence they failed in November If, 1 1, and landed at a port called Palina, in the ter- ritories of the cacique Hatuey, who flood on his de- ^ fence, taking advantage t?f the woods where the Spa- niards could make no ufe of their horfes. After two months fpent in this manner, the Indians concealed themfelves in the thickeft parts of the forefts -, but whenever they appeared they were hunted like wild beads by the Spaniards, who carried all they took to Velafquez, when that commander diftributed them among his men. Hatuey withdrew into the mod - inac- ^'^ )plc •ing nto in mi- his lif- lold '* to CoRTEs's Expedition, 187 InaccefTible places -, but at length had the misfortune to be taken and carried to Velafquez, who had the cruelty to caufe that unhappy cacique to be burnt alive : upon which all the province of Mayci fub- mitted •, for after this inhuman example of feverity, none of the Indians dared to oppofe him. Velafquez now began to think of dividing the native Indians among the Spaniards, as Obando had done by thofe in Hifpaniola, and for that purpofe he founded a town at an harbour in the north fide of the ifland, at a place called by the natives Barracoa, and here the firfl colony in the ifland was fettled. On its being known in Jamaica that Velafquez was in Cuba, many of thofe who were with Juan de Ef- quibel, Columbus's lieutenant, aflced leave to go over and ferve under him •, among whom was Pamphilio de Narvaez, a gentleman well born, who brought ;o archers under his command, and having a graceful perfon and an eafy addrefs, was well received by Velafquez : he fent him with his 30 men to the province of Bayamo, a fine open country at fifty leagues diftance. On the road he and his fmall par- ty were attacked in the night at an Indian town, by a confiderable body of the natives •, but mounting a mare which he had brought with him, they were fo frighted at the fight of that noble animal, and at hearing the bells which at that time were part of the trappings of the Spanifli horfes, that they fled far into the country : and Velafquez fending a de- tachment to join Narvaez, he with the greateft eafe became abfolute matter of that province. The fine and extenfive ifland of Cuba, which is fituated in between 20*^ and 23° north latitude, is upwards of 800 miles in length from eafl: to weft, and generally about 70 broad. It lies about 50 miles weft of Hifpaniola, and 75 north of Jamaica, To the fouth are a great number of fmall iflands, to which Chriftopher Columbus gave the name of the Queen's garden, and to the north are a fmaller num- ber i88 Difcovcries after Columbus's Death, bcr which Velafquez named the King's Garden. The whole ifland of Cuba is very plcafant, and more temperate than Hifpaniola. On the eaftermoft point there are mountains of a great height, which ex- tend 90 miles, and through the middle runs a ridge of hills from tail to welt, from whence very fi.e rivers and brooks flow down both to the north and the fouth, through the plain champain countries which lie on the coaft, till after a fliort courfe they difcharge themfelves on each file into the fea. It has many fine harbours, particularly on the fouthern coaft, where there are that of St. Jago in the form of a crofs ; that of Xaquas, to which the (hips pafs through a narrow mouth not above a crofs- bow Ihot over, and then turn into the open part, which is about ten leagues in compafs. Here there are three fmall iflands, fo fituated that (hips may faften to ftakes fixed in the ground, under (helter of the mountains, and lie fafe from the winds blowing from any part of the compafs. On the north fide are alfo fcveral good harbours, the bell of which is, that now called the Havanna. ■ When this ifland was firft planted it was fo cover- ed with woods that a perfon might travel near 690 miles under trees of various forts, and particularly red cedars, out of the trunks of which the natives made canoes able to contain 50 or 60 perfons, After the Spaniards had been fettled there fome time, they found confiderable quantities of gold in the rivers, fome of which was very pure. Though the original inhabitants were very numerous, they have been long fince deftroyed by the cruelty of the Spaniards. St. Jago in the fouth part of the ifl- and is now efteemed the capital •, but the Havannah on the north-weft, is by far the moft confiderable place, on account of its trade, and its being the an- nual rendezvous of the galleons on their retun> to Spain. r Vejafquez having reduced the beft part of Cuba, and to CoRTEs's Expedition. 189 and planted feveral Spanifh colonies upon that ifland, began to be very defirous of fliaking off the autho- rity of admiral Diego Columbus, under whom he had hitherto afted. That admiral being now re- called into Spain, oppofed this projed to the utmofl: of his power ; but he had fo little inBuence at that ungrateful court, that he was unable to carry his point : for though Vclafquez was ft ill left accoun- table to him for the exercife of his authority, yet he was not allowed to recall him without the confent of the crown. This fo well anfwered Velafquez's pur- pofe, that he refolved immediately to execute a pro- jed he had long meditated of fitting out (hips for making difcoveries : and no fooner were his inten- tions known, than numbers of the Spanifh planters, who were grown rich, offered to contribute large fums towards carrying it into execution •, among whom was Francis Hernandez de Cordova, a perfon of great wealth and bravery, who offered to go as captain. '■'■■■ - '-lOif^.i--. x: r: ic ;-;• ;.:;.: ... • Cordova having fitted out two Ihips and a brig- andne, took no foldiers on board, and failed from the Havanna on the 8th of February 1517. After being twenty days at fea, during which they lay by in the night, they faw land, and from their (hips obferved a large town at about two leagues from the coaft. As they drew near, two canoes full of men appeared •, the Spaniards haled them ; and thirty In- dians went on board the commodore drefled in jackets without fleeves, ^nd with pieces of cloath wrapped about their waifts. The Spaniards gave them meat, wine, and ftrings of beads ; after which the Indians retiring, made figns that they would return the next day with more canoes to carry the Spaniards on Ihore •, feeming much to admire the (hips, the men, their beards, cloaths, arms, and every thing they had never feen before. •v^j.- ' :v^ ,-^/;-- --The next day the Indians returned with twelve ca- noes, on board of which was the cacique, who cried out 'i9o Dircovcries after Columbus's Death, out Conez cotocbe^ or Come to my boufe^ from whence that |jlace received the name of Cape Cotoche. The Spaniards then entering their boats and the canoes, took their arms and went alhore, where an infinite number of the natives waited to fee them. Cordova even refolved to attend the cacique to his houfe, in or- der to take a view of the country : but entering a wood, the cacique gave a fignal, and inllantly a mul- titude of men (tarted from an ambufcade in which they had been concealed. They were drelfed in jackets of quilted cotton to fecure them from being wounded by arrows, and had wooden fwords edged with flint, fpears, bows and arrows, flings, and tar- gets : their faces were painted of feveral colours, and on their heads they wore plumes of feathers. Thefe giving a loud fliout difcharged a fliower of ftones and arrows, and then rufliing on the Spaniards, fought with much refolution, till being dilbrdered by the dif- charge of the muflcets and crofs bows, as well as by the marpnefs of the Spanifli fwords, they fled, after having 1 7 men killed, and many wounded. In this adion were taken two youths who afterward became Chrifl:ians, and were called Julian and Melchior. The Spaniards now returned to their ihips and were pleafed at their having found people in many refpedls diflPerent from thofe they had hitherto feen, and par- ticularly at their having obferved houfes built with ftone and lime, which were the firfl: that had been ob- ferved in that part of the world. They now continued their courle along the coaft 1 5 days, and then entering a bay, landed in order to take in frefli water, of which they were in want. This place being by the Indians called Quimpeche, it from thence obtained the name of Campeche. They here filled their caflcs with frefli water, and were going to return to the fliips when they were met by 50 Indians dreflTed like thofe they had feen before, who aflced them whether they came from the place where the fun rifes : and conduced them to fome temples built with ftone, where the . Spa- to CoiiTEs*s Expedition. i9t Spaniards obfervcd fevcral deformed idols, with blood trelh fpilt. From one of thefe temples came two men in white mantles, with long black hair twilled up in rolls behind, and holding in their hands little earthen fire-pans into which they caft a certain gum, and then perfuming ihe Spaniards, ordered them to depart the country on pain of death : at which they retired in good order to the fliore, and returned to their (hips. They now fteered fix days along the coaft, and then landed at about a league's diftance from a town called Potanchan, where they filled their calks with water ♦, and obferved a body of armed men advancing toward them •, but it growing dark, they returned back towards the town. The Spaniards now ralhly refolved to Hay on Ihore j but in the night were great- ly alarmed by the noife made by the Indians, and at break of day perceived that the firft party had been joined by feveral others, and that they were entirely furrounded by a great army. They however refolved to make the belt defence in their power, and were quickly under the necelfity of exerting all their cou- rage : for it no fooner grew light than the Indians dis- charged a fhower of arrows, darts, and (tones, by which about 80 Spaniards were wounded, among whom was Cordova. But at length after a vigorous defence, the Spaniards finding it impoffible to van- quilh llich numbers, made a furious onfet, and breaking through the Indians, ran towards their boats, wiiile the Indians purfued them with hideous cries. The boats narrowly efcaped being overfet by their crowding into them, and the natives were fo eager to attack them, that they ran into the water to wound them with their fpears. In this adion 47 Spaniards were killed, five died on board the fhip, and all the reft, except one, were wounded. It was therefore re- folved to burn one of the Ihips for want of hands, and to return to Cuba. One ■ 4" 192 Difcoveries after Columbus's Death, One of their greateft misfortunes was their having been obliged to leave their cafks on fhore, which oc- cafioned their foon being in great diftrels for want of water ; and fome of the founded of the men being landed with jars to fearch for a frefli fupply, could jfind none but what was brackilh : this obliged them to fteer for Florida, where one of the pilots had been with Ponce de Leon. They here landed near a creek, and having polled centinels, dug pits *, and finding good water, drank fome, and walhed linen for the wounded men : but when they were about to return, one of the centinels having ftepped afide with a hatchet to cut down a palmetto tree near the creek, the other heard him cry out. and inftantly ran to give the alarm, crying, To feat tofea! the Indians are coming. Many canoes were inftantly feen rowing down the creek, filled with Indians cloathed in deer fkins, and armed with bows and arrows, fwords and fpears, who landing let fly their arrows, and wounded fix of the foldiers : but foon perceiving the dreadful efFefts produced by the mufkets and crofs-bows, they ran back to their canoes ; on which the Spaniards returned with fafety to their fhip. The men were in fuch diftrefs for want of water, that a foldier leaping into the boat, feized a jar, and drank fo much that he fwelled and died two days after. In Ihort, after enduring many other hardfhips, they arrived at the Havannah, from whence Cordova fent a particular account of his unfortunate voyage to the governor Diego Velafquez, and died of his wounds ten days after. Notwithftanding Cordova's ill fuccefs, his account of this voyage gave great pleafure to Velafquez, who frequently declared that he was refolved to purfue thefe difcoveries as foon as an opportunity offered : fmce as thefe Indians feemed more civilized than the others, they were probably richer. And his refolution was no fooner known, than feveral of the principal inhabitants offered him their affiflance, which foon enabled him to fend out three fhips and a brigantine. Thif f>-^\ • t td CoRT£S*s Expedition. ing 193 This fmall fquadron, which was commanded by John Grijaiva and the Captains Alverado, Montejo and d'Avila, who had ftri£b orders to make what dif- Coveries they could, but to attempt no fettlements ; failed from Cuba-on the 8th of May, 1 5 1 8, and hav- ing vilited Florida, and difcovered the idand of Cozu- mel, failed along the coaft of the continent. Eight days after, they reached Potonchan's town, and came to an anchor ; upon which the natives being elated with their fuccefs in driving Cordova's men out of the country, took up arms, to hinder the Spaniards from landing: but being routed, the Spaniards marched to the town, where they found only three of the na- tives, who being well ufed, were fent with fome toys to allure the inhabitants back *, but as they did not re- turn, the Spaniards reimbarked and fet fail. Grijaiva now continuing his courfe by day, and ly- ing by in the night, for fear of falling among Bats and rocks, difcovered the mouth of a large river ; but lb (hallow it would only admit fmall vems, and there- fore they could only lend up two, and their boats well manned ; who were obliged to proceed with great circumfpeftion, on account of there being many armed Indians in canoes along the fhore. This river, which the natives called . Tabafco, the Spaniards named P io de Grijaiva, from their com- mander in chief, and landed at a grove of palm-trees about half a league from a town. The Indians feeing them leave their boats, about fifty canoes, full of armed men, moved forward, and (lopped again at a fmall diftance from the Spaniards -, upon which the latter fent Melchior and Julian, the two Indians taken by Cordova, to inform them that they were come with no other view, but to treat with them about fome af- fairs that would give them pleafure. Upon this the Indians in four canoes drew near, and Grijaiva order- ed the above interpreters to tell them, that he and his men were the fubjeds of a great King to whom mighty princes paid obedience ; thr.t it was reafonabk 'i Yoi.. I. a they 194 Difcoveries after Columbus's Death, they alfo fhould fubmit to him, becaufe it would be much to their advantage ; and that till the Spaniards could explain thefe affairs, they mud furnilh them with provifions. To this the Indians prudently re- plied, That they would give them provifions ; but that they had a lord of their own, and knew no rea- fon why they, who were but ftrangers, fhould offer to impofe a new lord upon them. However that they ought to take heed how they made war on them, as they had done on the people of Potonchan ; for they had provided an army, which according to their man- ner of computation muft amount to 24000 men. That they knew they had killed and wounded above 200 at Potonchan ; but that they were not fo weak as thofe people. They concluded with obferving, that they were come thither to know their will, and would make a very juft report of what was faid to a number of very great men, who were affembled either to treat of peace, or to renew the war. Grijalva then gave them firings gf beads, looking-glafles, and other things, charging them to bring back an anfwer, becaufe if they did not, he muft go to the town, though he fhould not do it any harm. Having thus concluded the conference, he returned to the fliips. Thefe perlbns having delivered the meffage, all the chiefs, "Who were ufually confulted in martial affairs, thought peace preferable to war, and immediately fent a number of Indians loaded widi roafted fifh, poultry, bread, and fcveral forts of fruit. Thefe being de- livered, they Idd fome mats on the ground, and placed upon them feveral forts of very beautiful feather worlvs. After which they let the Spaniards know, that their lord would come the next day to pay them a vifit. Accordingly at the time appointed the cacique ap- peared, attended by many unarmed men, and without (hewing the leaft jealoufy, went on board Grijalva's fhip. That commander was a genteel man, of about 28 years, and had on a loofe coat of crimfon velvet, a ■..; * ,., cap T|,. -*- to CoRTEs's Expedition.' "^''T 195 cap of the fame, with other rich: ornaments. He re- ceived the cacique with refpedt, and fitting^ down, they began their difcourfc, through the niedium of in- terpreters. After fome time, the cacique ordered an Indian to take out of a trunk he carried, fome plates of gold, and thin boards covered with the fame metal for armour. Thefe the cacique himfelf tried upon Grijalva, taking otF thofe that did not lit, and apply- ing others, till he had put him on a compleat fuit of gold armour that fitted him as well as if it had been made for him. He alfo prefenteJ him various works in gold and feathers. In return Grijalva called for a very fine fhirt, and with his own hands put it* upoa' the cacique, as he alfo did his great coat of crimfon velvet. He then put on his feet a pair of new fhoes j and gave him fome of the beft ilrings of beads and looking-glafles, with fciffars, knives, and feveral toys made of tin, fome of which he alfo gave to all the ca- cique's attendants. The cacique's prefent to Grijalva was worth about 3000 pieces of eight, and among the reft were a wooden head-piece covered with thin plates of gold, and three or four mafks, fome of which were covered with a fort of ftones like eme- ralds. The fight of thefe things made the Spaniards very eager to fettle in a country that produced fucli vaft wealth. -'fc-i. j v.? ^mj Grijalva having received this confiderable prefent, and being fenfible that the Indians were not willing that their guefts ftiou'd ftay long, proceeded farther, and in two days came to a town called Agualunco, which the Spaniards named Le-Rambla, where the inhabitants appeared at a diftance, with targets of tor- toifefhell, which glittering in the fun, made fome of the Spaniards fancy they were of gold. Sailing from hence, the Spaniards faw feveral other rivers, in one of which they obferved the Indians waving large pieces of white cloth faftened to poles, as if inviting them to land : whereupon Grijalva or- dered Captain de Montejo to go on fliore with all the- ' O 2 muf- X96 Difcoveries after Columbus's Death; muflceteers, and twenty other foldiers, and that in cafe the Indians appeared in a warlike pofture» he ihould give notice, in order that fuccours might be fent him. It is neceflary to oblerve, that this coaft was part of the great empire of Mexico, and that Motezuma, who was then feated on the dirone, having heard of the exploits of the Spaniards, and the pains they took to become acquainted with the maritime parts of his empire, began to grow uneafy, and longed to know why they took fuch pains to learn the ftate of coun- tries that did not belong to them. To obtain this intelligence, he had given directions to the governors of fome of thefe provinces to entertain thefe Grangers civilly, to feize every Opportunity of trading with them, and to fend him from time to time fuch an ac- count of their motions, as might enable him clearly to difcern what opinion he ought to entertain of them, and in confequence of thefe indrudtions the Indians made Hgnals to invite them on ihore. As foon, therefore, as Montejo and his men were landed, the Mexicans ofiered them fowls, bread, and fruit, and perfumed the Spaniards by burning gum copal in little fire-pans. Montejo inftantly fent advice to Grljalva of the friendly manner in which he was re- ceived, upon which that commander came up with the fhips, landed, and gave the people fome glafs beads and necklaces. He was treated with great re- ipedl by the emperor of Mexico's governor, and his principal officers, who ordering the Indians to bring gold to barter, the Spaniards, during the fix days they ftaid there, purchafed gold toys of feveral Ihapes, to the value of 15,000 pieces of eight. At length Grijalva, having made prefents to the principal perfons, and taking pofTellion of the country for the king of Spain, in the name of Diego Velaf- quez, embarked and touched at feveral iflands, and having landed in one of them, with 30 foldiers, found a temple in which were feveral idols, and four men ^lum s. v^ . * drefled *:■• ♦ to CoRTEs's Vpedttion. in he be 197 drefled in long black mantles and hoods, who were the priefts of the temple, and had that vq-y day facri- ficed two boys who were found ripped open, and their hearts taken out ; a piece of cruelty which ftruck even the Spaniards with horror. To this ifland, which was called Ulua, Grijalva gave the name of St. John Baptiit, but it has ever fince been called St. John de Ulua, to diftinguilh it from St. John de Porto Rico. Grijalva having ftaid ieven days at this iQand, during which he bartered for a fmall quantity of gold, he fent Velaiquez an account of his difcoveries by Alverado, with all the gold and other things they had obtained from the Indians. Velafquez was greatly pleafed with the account he received *, but Alverado having been very defirous of fettling a colony, gave him very ill impreflions of Grijalva, who had ierved him faithfully, and paid the itri£teft regards to his orders. In the mean time Grijalva, by the advice of the other captains and pilots, coafted along in fight of the mountains of Tuipa, and afterwards failed to the mouth of the river Tarala, to which he gave the name of St. Anthony, and there careened one of the ftiips that was leaky. While they were here many Indians came from a town at a league's diftance, with bread, poultry, and other provifions, which they fold for Spanifh toys : and the news of this trafHc being foon fpread abroad, others came from Guazacoalla, and the reil of the neighbouring towns, bringing pro- vifions, and very bright copper-axes with painted handles -, the Spaniards thinking thefe axes were gold, purchafed 600 of them, and the Indians would wil- lingly have parted with more. While the Spaniards were here, a foldier entered a temple that ftood in the fields, whence he took the incenfe called by the Indians Copal, the facrificing knives, and fome idols, which he delivered to the commander in chief, after his having firft taken off P 3 0eir / 19^ Difcoveries aftcd|BLUMBus*s Death, &c. their cal-vings, pendants, plates, and crowns of gold, worth about 90 pieces of eight •, but not being able to conceal his joy at obtaining this booty, Grijalva was informed of what he had done, and ordered pvery thing to be taken from him ; but afterwards re- ftored them to him again, upon his paying the fifth to the king. From this place Grijalva fet fail for Cuba, and in 45 days arrived at the port of Matancas in thatifland, with the value of 4000 pieces of eight in gold, be- f^des what had been brought by Alverado. In this port Grijalva received a letter from the Governor, or- dering him to haften to the port of St. Jago, and to inform the men that another fleet was fitting out, in order to make a fettlement. Grijalva obeyed this fummons •, but on his arrival at St. Jago, met with a very i f nm 01 L-i . ; t;t-;«w-i '>'IU Lfis .p^£»ri •; .7 ■- , " - . ■' 3lil ,i>Y/?3 ; 1- fbiHv/ ^? ,- '.Ij-^al ';,?Vh . - t.- f s / ■ ' * - '.■| .^tfit^'fi^ ,s;l|Bd2ii.^x;:vCi nrclf ? ms'j •'1'"i?<:> f^SOTi;-/; • ' ' '^ i ^, > . . ,, J - ml f . . • ■".', -i 1 ■' J 4- • » i^AM^^i » tr 1 't V - ;. • .-.T .'h'u^i' <.Ji- '. ..V rHE » » i ►-. .< *».- V i- fS; L '59 J C-t«? •V r; •^vA* .r:i-» 9-'5"- THE ; Conqueft of MEXICO, ^^ HERNANDO CORT E S. /^ :; "1 "■" 'T HErnando Cortes was born at Medelin, a town of Eftremadura, in Spain ; and being bred to a military life, he determined to pufli bis fortune in the Weft-Indies, whither he failed in the year 1 504, with letters of recommendation to his kinfman Don Nicholas de Obando, who was at that time governor of Hifpaniola. This gentleman entertained him very kindly, but his favours could not divert his inclina- tion to arms, and that ifland being now pofTefled by the Spaniards, without any oppofition from the na- tives, he defired leave to ferve in the illand of Cuba, where the war was ftill carried on. Arriving there, he fo far diftinguifhed himfelf, as to obtain the repu- tation of a valiant foldier and able commander ', on which account he was made Alcalde, or chief ma- giftrate of the town of St. Jago, a poft generally con- ferred on thofe who diftinguifh themfelves in the con- queft of thofe countries. Cortes was in this fituation when he was recommended to Diego de Velafquez, governor of Cuba, as a proper perfon for making conquefts on the continent •, and the governor giving his approbation, a commiffion was inftantly figned, by which Cortes was appointed Captain-general of the O 4 fleet, »a too The Conqucft of MEXICO, fleet, and of the countries he fhould difcover and fub- jedb to the Spanifh dominion. His nomination to this pod was greatly refented by all who had flattered themfelves with the hopes of obtaining it. Mean while Cortes employed his own fortune, and all the money he could borrow, in the purchafe of provifions, arms, and ammunition, and inlifted foldiers, with fuch expedition and fuccefs, that within a few days he had above 300 men in his fervice, and having equipped ten fmall veflels from 80 to I GO tons each, they failed from the port of St. JagodeCuba, on the 1 8th of November, 15 18, and coafting along the ifland, arrived at the port of La Tranidad, where he was joined by fcvtral perfons of diftindlion, who refolved to follow his fortunes. But he had no fooner left St. Jago, than his enemies pre- vailed on Velafquez to revoke his commifllon : of which Cortes being informed, he confulted his friends and adherents, who declared with great warmth, that they would ftand by him to the laft extremity. He then took fuch meafures as appeared moft proper for removing the jealoufy of Velafquez, and promoting his own fecurity j and having fent Pedro de Alvcrado wiih a party or foldiers by land to take care of the horfes, and raife recruits in the fettlements, he failed with the fleet for the Havannah. But in the night, the Capitana, in which Cortes embarked, feparared from the reft, while the other veflels continued their courfe to the port of Havannah, where the people were kindly received by Pedro de Barba, the gover- nor under Velafquez. However, having ftaid feveral days, without hearing any news of Cortes, they con- cluded he was loft, and began to deliberate about chufing another commander, but were prevented by his arrival, when he was received with the loud accla- mations of his men, and treated with great refpedt by the governor. During his ftay in this place, he caufed a number of cotton jackets to be made, to defend his people by HERNANDO CORTES. 201 from the darts and arrows of the Indians ; they beins found more fecure than coats of mail. He proved his artillery, and exercifed his foldiers. But while he was thus employed, a mellenger arrived with dif- patches to the governor of Havannah, containing ex- prefs orders to diveft Cortes of his command, and to fend him prifoner with a llrong guard to St. Jago. Cortes was highly incenfed at Velaiquez's behaviour, and his endeavouring to ruin an entcrprize in which he and his friends had embarked their whole for- tunes : he therefore refolved to provide for himfelf, and to make ufe of force if it was neceffary •, he even explained his lituation to his foldiers, and they raifed fuch a tumult, that the governor of Havannah dread- ing the confequence of their refentmcnt, publickly declared, that he did not intend to execute the orders he had received from Velafquez, which he confidered as a flagrant a6t of injuilice. This commotion being thus appeafed, and a brigantine added to the fleet. Cortes divided his men into eleven companies, de- livered inltrudtions to his ofHcers, and after a folemn mafs, at which all the foldiers alliiled, weighed and fet fail from Havannah on the loth of February, 15 1 99 ^ith a favourable gale : but the fun was no fooner fet than a furious florm arofe, which damaged the fleet. Cortes had before fcnt Diego de Ordaz, whofe fidelity he had fufpeded, to Guanicanico, a fettlcment on the other fide of Cape St. Antonio, and a little before the ftorm, he fent Pedro de Alverado in queft of him, with orders to wait for the fleet at Cape St. Antonio-, but Pedro perceiving that the temped had driven him fo far into the gutph as to render it difHcuIt for him to weather Cape St. Anto- nio, fleered away for the ifland of Cozumel, where upon his landing he found a fmall town near the coaft, which was abandoned by the Indians, who fled at his approach. Alverado was a young man of an enterprizir g ge- pjus, but of little experience, and imagining that while ■ i "i "Jt 202 The Conqucft of MEXICOi while he waited for the fleet which was to caft anchor at that ifland, nothing could fc ill become a foldier as inaction, he ordered his men to march, and take a view of the inner part of the ifland. However this expedition was lb far from promoting the fervice in which they were engaged, xhp.t it only ferVed to frighten the Indians, and to render it more difficult to obtain their fi iendfhip and afliftance. The next day Cortes arrived with the fleet, having fent another vefTel with diredlions to Ordaz, on a fuppofition that Alverado had been prevented by the Horm, and though he was glad to find that young captain fafe at Cozumel, lie publickly reprimanded him for his ralhnefs, and difmifled three Indian pri- foners whom he had taken, after having ordered their effedts to be reftored, and given them many pre- fents for their cacique, in token of peace and amity. To prevent any new difputes, Cortes drew down his forces to the fea-fide, and having encamped them there for three days, he thought fit to make a general review j when it appeared that his whole army amounted to 508 foldiers including their ofiicers, 16 horfe, 2 chaplains, and 109 mariners, and mechanics. On this occafion Cortes made theio a fpeech, in which he endeavoured to aniinate them with courage, and in the ftrongeft terms, reprefenced the necefllty of a ftrid obedience and unanimity. He had fcarcely ended his fpeech, when a confider- able number of unarmed Indians approached in fe- veral detached parties : upon which he drew up his men, and commanded them to remain under arms till their intention was known. The Indians no foon- ^r came in fight;, than they continued for fome time without motionj but perceiving that no hofl:ilities were ofl'ered, they at length boldly advanced, and mingling with the foldiers, prefented them with re- frefbments, and continued to behave with great con- fidence and familiarity. , • - ' • - "• "■*■,.; The f7 •5!Mw by HERNANDO CORT^ >. 203 ^ The principal cacique of the ifland can^ Lhe next day with a numerous retinue to pay a vifit i > Co>rtes, who received him with great courtefy j and vhilc the converlation was carried on by means of an inter- preter, one of the Indians was heard to pronounce the word Caftilla, the meaning of which being demanded by Cortes, he was told that the Indian faid, the Spa- niards refembled fome perfons in Yucatan, who came from a country called Caftilla. Cortes immediately concluded that thefe were his countrymen, and re- folved to fet them at liberty. Upon a more particu- lar enquiry he found that they were in the power of fome Indians of the higheft rank, who refided at Yu- catan, and that the moll certain method of procuring their liberty would be to offer a ranfom : for the ca- cique informed him, that ftiould he have recourfe to arms, it would expofe them to the hazard of being maflacred by their mafters. Cortes approved of this advice, and ordered Diego de Grdaz to fail to the coaft of Yucatan, with a letter to.the prifoners and fome trifles for their ranfom, and to ftay eight days, in which time fome Indians appointed by the cacique for that purpofe, undertook to return with an anfwer. In the mean time Cortes marched with the troops in a body about the illand, in order to view the country, and keep his men in aclion -, and in this tour, he was accompanied by the cacique, and a great number of Indians. • '■■-'■ ^-^r^.i^^^^ sTih ' At a foall diftance from the coaft ftood the temple- of an idol that was much revered by the Indians. It was a fquare ftone building, and no contemptible ftruclure. The idol, which was called Cozumel^ whence the ifland received the fame name, was in the figure of a man, and had a moft horrible afpedt. Hertf a great concourfe of people \vere found liftening to a prieft who was diftinguilhed by a certain ornament or covering, which fcarcely concealed his nakednefs, and whofeemedto preach with preat emphafis. Cortes, fhocked at the abfurdity of fuch worlhip, told the cacique. ft04 The Conqucft of MEXICO, cacique, tbtt it was impoflible for them to continue friends, if he did not renounce his idolatry, and that it was unworthy of a man of fenfe to pay divine ho- nours to a deformed image fitter to frighten children than to be reverenced by men of underftanding. The cacique replied, that as to religion he left it wholly to the priefts, who (hould, if ne pleafed, difcourfe with him upon that fubjeft. This was readily ac- cepted, and one of thejpriefts being fent for, no fooner was informed of the affair in queftion, than he began with the moft hideous outcries to protefl aeainft thoi'e who fhould be fo audacious as to difturb the worfhip of their gods, denouncing the immediate vengeance of Heaven againft all who fhould prcfume to dif- honour this deity, or his habitation. But Cortes, without paying any regard to his menaces, imme- diately ordered all the idols to be broke to pieces, and moft of their temples to be demolifhed. The largcft of them, however, he prcfcrvcd entirt, and having caufed a neat altar to be erefled, had mafs faid in it by the chaplains and priefts, and at his departure charged the cacique to take the flri^tefl care that every thing was kept in good order, and that no in- fblt was offered to the image of the BlefTed Virgin, or to two crofles which lie eredled in that chapel, and this the Indian chief very readily promifed. '^ When the eight days were expired, Diego de Or- daz returned from Yucatan, without feeing any thing of the Caflilians, for whom he was fent •, Cortes there- fore fct fail with a fair wind •, but was obliged to re- turn the fame day, on account of one of the fhips ' having fprung a leak. - While this fhip was refitting, Cortes was told, that a canoe was flanding diredly toward the iHand, when perceiving that fhe was full of armed Indians, he or- dered Andrea de Tapia to get as much as polTible un- der the flicker of the land, and to endeavour to take the canoe. Soon after four men came out of it with only a flight covering about their waifts, and with bow§ by HERNANDO CORTES. 26^ bows and arrows in their hands. Andrea de Tapia» as foon as the Indians were landed, advanced coward them fword in hand, when three of them Teemed afraid, the fourth bid them not fear, and addreflTing himfclf to the Spaniards, cried aloud in the Caftilliad tongue, Gentlemen^ I am a Cbrijiian. Tapia imme- diately embraced him with equal joy and furprize^ and conduced him to Cortes, who received him with much affec^non. Cortes having aflced the name of the ftrangcr, he replied that he was called Jerom dc Aguilar, and was a native of Eija. Meat and drink were then fet before him, and he was ordered to be cloathed. ^ • The next day Cortes inquired how he fell into the hands of the Indians, when he replied, that being at Darien, he was fent to Hifpaniola for men and am- munition •, but was cad away near Jamaica, when he and 20 other perfons taking to the boat, after fuffer- ing great diftreflcs, reached the fliorc of Yucatan^ where they fell into the hands of a cacique who imme- diately facrificed fix of them to his idols, and then ate them. That he and fome others were Ihut up in a wooden cage, in order to ferve for another feftival ; but breaking out, they fled over the mountains, till they came into the dominions of another prince, who was an enemy to him from whom they had fled. That foon after moft of his companions died, and he fell into the hands of a mafter whom he ferved for fe- vcral years, and at length acquired fuch a degree of favour, that he conferred upon him an employment near his perfon, and honoured him with his confi- dence. The cacique, his mafter, dying, recom- mended him to his fon, under whom he pofleflTed the fame ofiice, and afterward being employed in the wars with the neighbouring caciques, obtained fuch repu- tation, that he became the favourite both of the prince and people, and therefore on his receiving Cortes's letter, he eafily obtained his liberty as a reward for his fervices. • '■ 7 . • Qn 2o6 The Conqueft of MEXICO, r On the 4th of March 15 19, the fleet fet fail from Cozumel, and reached the river of Grijalva, where the civil treatment which tm Spaniards had formerly received from the Indians of Tabafco, and the gold brought from thence, were fuch inducements to their landing, as were not to be refifted. Therefore leav- ing the largeft veflTels at anchor, Cortes embarked all his Ibldiers on board the fmaller, and in the boats, and was beginning to make the beft of his way againft the current, when he perceived both fides of the river covered with canoes filled with Indians in arms, fup- ported by a confiderable force on fhore. When guefllng from the horrible out-cries, and gefticulations of the Indians, that they intended to oppofe him, he fent Aguilar to them in a canoe with offers of peace, which being rejeded, he refolved to punifti them for daring to defend their country. But night ap- proaching, he thought proper to wait till the next day. At day-break, he drew up the veflels in the figure of an half-moon, and advancing flowly to the Indians, fent Aguilar a fecond time, with propofals of peace, to which they made no anfwer, but giving the fignal for the attack, advanced with great fwiftnefs by the favour of the current, till being near eiiough to ufc their arrows, they difcharged fuch a cloud of them, both from the canoes and barks on the river, that the Spaniards were much embarrafled in their endeavours to cover themfelves. However, having received the firft charge, they aflaulted the Indians with fuch vigour, that the canoes foon left the paffage free. The veffels then proceeded up the river without fuf- ther oppofition, and approaching the (hore endea- voured to land; but the place being marftiy, and covered with brambles, the Spaniards were aflaulted by a number of Indians who lay in ambufh. How- ever Cortes drew up his men, and ordered Alonzo Davila to advance with a hundred foldiers through the woods, and take pofleflion of the town of Tabafco, which was not far from the place of adtion. Cortes thea by HERNANDO CORTES. 207 then attacked that vaft multitude, and notwith- ftanding his being obliged to fight up to his knees in mud, he put the Indians to flight ; when inftantly difcovering the march of Davila, they ran to defend the town. ,.^,^ . .,.. ;v Cortes followed them, and reached Tabafco before the detachment he had fent thither ; and found ic fortified with a wall formed of large trunks of trees fixed in the ground like palifadoes, with fpaces be- tween for the convenience of (hooting arrows. It was of a circular compafs, and at the clofing of the circle the extremity of one line covered the other, forming a narrow winding ftreet, in which were two or three wooden cailles which filled up the palTage, and were built for placing centinels. This was then a fufHcient fortification againft the inhabitants of the new world, who were happily ignorant of the methods of deftrudion praflifed by politer nations. , Cortes being joined by Davila, foon drove the enemy from their polls, and then breaking down a part of the palifadoes, entered without difficulty. The Indians however made head againft the Spaniards in the ftreets ; but being again repulfed, fled in great diforder to the woods, whither Cortes would not allow his men to purfue them. The Indians had removed their families and efirds, and provided for their fupport by laying in a great Hock of provifions. Fourteen or fifteen of the Spa- niards were wounded, but the lofs of the Indians was very confiderable. The troops lodged that night in the town, in which centinels were pofted with as much care and exadnefs as if an army had been in view ; but the next day the country appeared de- ferted, and there was not an enemy to be feen. Cortes however fufpeded this ftillnefs, and his apprehenfions increafed, by his being informed that Melchior his interpreter, one of the Indians taken by Cordova, had deferted that very night, leaving his- cloaths hanging on a tree* ^ t.,^ , «^.,ii i ,w ^^^ «!-!,«, -^i« t« i* Co tes m 'igmi- i).i ;v ♦-«!»: i«i T-^i' 2o8 ' the Conqub(t ot MEXICO, Cortes now fent Pedro de Alverado and Francifcd de Lugo with too men each, by difierent ways, to view the country, with orders to retire in cafe they found an army in the field : but the latter, after a little more than an hour's march, fell into an am- bufcade, and would certainly have been overpowered, had not Alverado, who had been obliged to turn out of his way by meeting a marlh, heard the report of the fire-arms, and haued to his relief, after his hav- ing firil detached an Indian of Cuba to Cortes, to in- form him of this event. Alverado attacked the In- dians when Lugo was in the greateft diftrefs, who, though they gave way at firft, yet rallied in great numbers ; until at length Cortes appeared at a dif- cance, and being obferved by the Indians, they dif- perfed, leaving the Spaniards in the poiTeflion of the field, eleven of whom were wounded, of which num- ber two died. Some prifoners being taken on this occanon, Cortes caufed them to be examined feparately, by Jerom de Aguilar, when they agreed in declaring, that all the caciques in the neighbouring countries, were march- ing to the afliftance of the inhabitants of Tabafco, and that the next day a powerful army was to be af- fembled in order to deftroy the Spaniards at once. Upon this intelligence Cortes called a council, com- municated to his captains what he had learned, and de- fired their advice : reprefenting the weaknefs of their naked enemies, and the ill conlequences that would attend their turning their backs upon them. Upon which the officers unanimoufly agreed, that it wars abfolutely necefiary not to leave the country, till the inhabitants were reduced. Cortes now proceeded to make the neceffary difpo- fitions for a decifive battle : he ordered the wounded to be carried on board •» the horfes to be landed -, the artillery to be in readinefs •, and every thing in order by the next morning. At day-break he gave the command of the infantry to Diego de Ordaz, when he by HERNANDO CORTES. 209 ^c and the other commanders mounted on horfe- back, and kept pace with the artillery, which mov- ed very flowly, from the ground's being boggy, till arriving at a place called Cinthla, about the diftance of a league from their quarters, they obferved the Indian army appear at a diftance, and in fuch num- bers, as to cover the country as far as the eye could reach. ' - ' -^ -^ «* It is here proper to defcribe the Indian manner of arming themfelves, and coming to an engagement ^ fince, as the art of war is nearly the fame in all parts of New Spain, this will be fufficient to give the reader fome idea of their appearance through the whole of this conqueft. Their principal weapons were bows and arrows, the firings of the bows being made of the finews of beafts, or thongs of deer flcins twilled, and their arrows pointed with filh bones. They had a kind of javelins, which they fometimes threw, and fometimes managed like a pike. They had alfo long two-handed wooden fwords, edged with (harp flints ; fome of the flrongeft had clubs pointed with flini/S, and there v/ere (lingers who threw (lones with great force and dexterity. Their defenfive arms, which were worn by none but commanders and perfons of diftinclion, confided of coats of quilt- ed cotton, breaft-plates, and (hields of wood and tortoire(hell adorned with plates of metal. The re(t of the people were naked, only their heads were en^ circled with plumes of feathers ; and all of them had their faces and bodies painted of various co^ lours, in order to ftrike terror into their enemies. Their warlike mufic were pipes made of large canes, fea-fhells, and drums made of the bark of a tree, hollowed, which being beaten with a .(lick af- forded a very difagreeable found : they made their at- tacks with terrible outcries, to intimidate their ene- mies, and were equally eager to charge or to run away. Such was the army, or rather inundation of In- dians, which now poured down upon the Spaniards. Vol* I. P Cortes I- ti 2 10 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, Cortes pofted his men Under the {helter of a riling ground that covered the rear, and having placed his artillery to the greateft advantage, advanced with his fifteen horfe to a wood, from whence he intended to fally, and flank the enemy. ' "When the Indians had marched v/ithin a proper diftance, they difcharged a fliower of arrov/s, and then fell upon the Spaniards with fuch fury and pre- cipitation, that their fire-arms and crois-bows being unable to flop them, they were obliged to have re- courfe to their fwords •, and as the enemy prelfed on, the artillery deftroyed them by whole companies. But the Indians fought with fuch bravery, that the ball was no fooner pafTed than they clofed again, drowning the groans of the wounded by their out- cries. Cortes, however, with his 15 horfe rujQiing fuddenly from the wood, broke through the thickeit of the enemy, while they being amazed and terri- fied at tlie fight of thofe unknown animals, threw down their arms and fled with precipitation. Diego de Ordaz being loon fenfible that the relief he ex- pefted was arrived, from the weak relillance of the enemy's van, advanced with his infantry, till he came to the place where Cortes and his captains had dif- pcrfed the enemy, who retreated making a running fight, till the Spaniards purfuing them, they fled in the utmolt confulion, leaving above 800 dead upon the (pot; the Spaniards had two men killed, and threefcore and ten wounded. The next day Cortes ordered two or three of the Indian officers who were prifoners to be brought be- fore him, and perceiving that their countenances had all the marks of terror, he gave them a courte- ous reception, and then fet them at liberty ; giving them ibme trifling prefents, and telling them, he knew hov/ to conquer and how to forgive. This in- flance of his moderation had fuch an eflxtd, that in a few hours feveral of the natives came loaded with Indian corn, fowls, and other pxovifions, as a pre- . . .. * .< lent by tiERNANDO CORTES. 211 ftht from the principal cacique of Tabafco, who by tlieie perfons made propolals of peace : but Je- tom de Aguilar obferving that thele were mean peo- ple, Cortes, though very dcfirous of peace, refufed to admit their propofals, and fent them back with- out feeing them ; ordering them, by his interpreter^ to acquaint their cacique, that, if he defired his friendship, he muft fend perfons of greater diftinc- tion to follicit it. The cacique, imrfiediately fenfible of his error, the next day fent 30 of his principal men, adorned with plumes and jewels, and followed by a train of Indians, who carried another prefent of the fame kind to the Spanifh general. . Cortes was aftervVards vifited by the cacique in perfon, attended by all his officers, who brought with them a prefent of cotton cloths, plumes of va- Hcus colours, and fome pieces of gold of admirable workmanfliip ; and the vifit pafled in proteftations of a reciprocal and fincere friendfliip. The next day the cacique returned, with a prefent of twenty Indian wo- men, who were flcilled in making bread of Indian corn, and drefllng other provifions. Among thefe women was one of uncommon beauty, who was afterwards baptiz- ed by the name of Maririaj and became Cortes's mif- trefs. - ! The pilots now haftened the departure of the fleer, Jtnd Palm Sunday drawing nigh, Cortes appointed that day for their embarking. The Spaniards ac- cordingly fet fail for Mexico, coafting along to the weftward, till they arrived at the port now called St. Juan de Ulua, where they had no fooner come to an anchor, between the ifland and the main land, than two large canoes, called piraguas, came with Indians from the neighbouring coaft, and on their drawing rtear^ began to fpeak in a language which Aguilar did not underftand ; a circumltance which very much chagrined Cortes. Marina guefiing his concern by his looks> told Aguilar in the Yucatan tongue, that the people fpoke the Mexican lan- guage, and dcfvred audience of the general on the P 2 pa It •utr: 2 12 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, part of the governor of that province. This wo- man was the daughter of a cacique of one of the provinces fubjed: to the emperor of Mexico, but in her youth had been carried to a Mexican garrifon, on the confines of Yucatan, after which, by fome ipisfortune. (he became a flave to the cacique of Tabaico, who made a prefent of her to Cortes. As this woman was not yet acquainted with the lan- guage of Spain, ihe interprt-red to Aguilar in the Yucatan tongue, what the Mexiian faid, and he im- parted it to Cortes in the Caftiilian. By this double interpretation the general learned that Pilpatoe go- vernor, und Tcutile, captain-general of that pro- vince, had fent to know with what int .^ntion he came upon their coaft ; when Cortes prefenting them with a tew baubles, and treating them with fome Spanilh wine, told them, that h^ came as a friend to treat of matters of great importance to their prince and the whole empire, for which purpofe he would meet the two governors. 1 he Spaniards landed on (^ood Friday, and having got their horfes and artillery on fhore, Cortes diredb- ed the foldiers to cut fafcines, in order to intrench themlelves, and to build a fufficient number of huts to fhelter them from the exceflive heat of the fun. The people alfo brought plenty of provifions, and fon)e cotton cloth to cover the buildings ereded for the officers : but notwithftanding, Cortes kept him- felf upon his guard, and planted his artillery in fuch a manner as to command the country. On Eafter- day he was vifited by Teutile and Pilpatoe, attend- ed by a very great retinue ; he received them with extraordinary ftate, furrounded by his officers and foldiers. The firft compliments being pafled, and it being the hour of divine fervice, he conduced them to a large hut, and ordered Aguilar and Ma- rina to te]l them, that before he acquainted them with the defign of his voyage, he ought to comply with the duties of his religion, and to recommend to by HERNANDO CORTES. 213 to the God of all other gods the fuccefs of his pro- pofal. After fervice was over, Cortes returned to his quarters, where the two generals were entertain- ed at dinner, in as fplendid a manner as pofiible ; an4 that being ended, he called his interpreters, and with a determined air told them, that he came to treat with the emperor Motezuma, on the part of Don Carlos of Auftria, monarch of the eaft, on affairs of great importance, both with ref, eft to himfelf and all his fubjedts ; for this reafon it was neceffary for him to appear before his royal prefence, to which he hoped to be admitted, with all the re- fpedl due to the greatnefs of the king his mailer. Cortes's guefts appeared alarmed at this declara- tion, and before they returned an anfwer, ordered their attendants to bring in the prefent they had brought with them. Upon which 20 or 30 perfons entered loaded with provifions, fine cloth, feathers of various colours, and a large box, in which were feveral pieces of gold curioufly wrought. Then turning to Cortes, Teutile defired him to accept that prefent from two of Motezuma*s flaves, who had orders to entertain fuch ftrangers as landed upon his coaft: but begged he would not think of pro- fecuting his defign, it being no cafy matter to fpeak with their prince. To this Cortes replied, with lome warmth, that kings never refufed to hear the ambafladors of other princes, and that their bufine^-^ was to acquaint Motezuma with his arrival, and that he was relolved to fee him before he left the country. " m- - • vr . During this conference, fome Mexican painters who came in the general's train, were bufily en ploy- ed in drawing upon cotton cloths the fhips, loldiers, arms, artillery, horfes, and every thing elfe that ap- peared remarkable which they introduced into dif- ferent landfkips that . were no way contemptible, cither for the drawing or colouring. Thefe pic- tures were defigned by Teutile, to giv^ Motezuma P 3 fome I It Jl 1;^ 1 1 4 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, fome idea, of what appeared too extraordinary to be fully defcribed by words ; but here and there were placed fome characters, which feemed to explain the picture. Cortes being informed of what thefe painters were doing, went out to fee them, when obferving that thefe figures wanted adlion to exprefs the valour of his troops, he ordered them to arms, drew them up in a body, and commanding the artillery to be made ready, then telling Teutile and Pilpatoe, that he would entertain them after the manner of his coun- try, he mounted his horfe, with his captains, who marched two and two, to the amazement of the In- dians, who feeing fuch (lately animals fo obedient to their riders, imagined that there was fomething fupernatural in thofe who could manage them with fuch eafe and dexterity. Cortes then divided his troops into two bodies, gave a mock fight, and at a fignal given they difcharged their muflyere fixed to .Vthe fpot with terror and admiration. Cortes now endeavoured to difilpate their appre- henfions by afluring them, that thefe were only mi- litary diverfions. The painters immediately began to reprefent the Spaniards armed and drawn up ip ranks -, the horfcs in the attitudes of their exercifes, and the artillery with fire and frnoke. Mean while Cortes returned to his houfe with the two generals, and after having made them a prefenr, prepared one for Motezuma, confiding of feveral polilhed looking glaffes, a hpUand Ihirt, a cap of crimfon velvet adorned with a gold medal, and a tapeftry chair. Teutile and Pilpatoe at length feeming much pleafed with their entertainment, took their leave ; but retiring only to a fmall diftance, held a conful- f^tipn, in \yhich i^ was agreed that the latter fhould remairi by HERNANDO CORTES. 215 r-emain on that fpot to obfcrve the motions of ihc Spaniards. Pilpatoe's attendants immediately begaa to build hoiifcs, and a confiderable village was form- ed in a few hours : but left Cortes fliould be offend- ed at this flep, he fent to inform him that he ftaid there, in order to be at hand to provide for his en-» tertainment, and to fupply his troops with provi- fions. Though Cortes guefTed his real intention, he took no notice of his fufpicions, and Pilpatoc continued to fupply him with provifions in great plenty. Mean while Teutile difpatched meiTcngers to Motezuma with an account of what had happen-^ ed, with the pidures drawn by his order, and Cor- tex's prcfent. Motezuma was provided with a great nuniber of couriers, chofcn from the fwifteft of the Indians, who were diftributed along all the principal roads of the kingdom, and rewards were paid out of the public treafury to thofe who firfl arrived at the ap- pointed places. Thefe couriers were relieved at every town, which occafioned all difpatches to be carried with furprifing expedition, and an anfwer was re- turned from Mexico within feven days, though the diftance from that city to Juan de Uiua amounts to 60 leagues. Motezuma*s meflkge to Cortes was brought by Teutile with that prince's prefcnt, which was carried by 100 Indians, and conlifted of yery fine cptton robes, and many curiofities formed of feathers, where the beautiful variety of the co* lours w$s fo mixed and difpofed by the (kill of the artift, that without making ufe of artincial colours, or of the pencil, they formed curious pictures, A»d a very fine imitation of natural objeds. They alfo Iproughc a great number of bows, arror/s, and tar- gets made of the fineft wood 5 two large circular plates,, the one of gold, reprefenting the fun ; and the other of filver, with the figure of the moon ; and a confiderable quantity of precious ftones, pieces of gold, gold collars, rings, pendants, and other e/,^; P 4 ornaments f 3 16 .1 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, ornaments of the fame metal in the fhape of birds and bealts, fo curiouQy wrought, that the work- manlliip Teemed to exceed the value of the metal. Thefe feveral articles being placed in order upon mats made of palm tree leaves, Teutile turned to Cortes, and told him by the interpreters, that the great Emperor Motezuma had fent him thefe things in return for his prefent, and to fhew how much he Valued the friendfhip of the king his fuvereign -, but it was neither convenient nor poflible at that time to admit him to his court. Cortes returned thanks for the prefent, and anfwered that ir was far from his dcfign to be wanting in obedience to Motezuma; but that he could not diOionour a king that was re- ff^edcd amongft the grcateit" princes in the world, by leturning without fulfilling his orders. ' j Motezuma was at firft incenfed at Cortes's perfe- Verance in his demand, and in the firft tranfports of his refcntment, propofed inftantly to deftroy thofe infolent ftrangers, who prefumed to difpute his will ; but his rage no fooner fubfidcd, than it was fucceed- ed by forrow and confternation. He had private councils with his minifters, public facrifices were offered in the temples, and fuch marks of diftur- bance and contufion were vifible in his whole be- haviour, that the people began to talk without re- ferve of fome figns and prefages, that were fuppofed to be indications of the approaching ruin of the empire. / - - ^ ^' vv , The empire of Mexico was then in its greateft glory, having under its dominion a prodigious extent of country, governed either by Motezuma in per- fon, or by many pcity kings or caciques, who were his tributaries. It extended in length about 1500 miles, in fome places it was 600 broad, and it was in general a populous, plentiful and rich country. Ihis empire non\ a very fmall beginning had rifen to tins heigir of power and greatnefs in little more than 1 30 years, during which time the Mexi- .cans by HERNANDO CORTES. 217 cans fubdiicd all the neighbouring (lares. They were at firft governed by a military chic ; but in the progrefs of their conquefts, they chofc,.: '> i-^g, and gave the llipremc dominion to him who had ;he greateft reputation for valour, without paying any other regard for hereditary fucceflion, than ihat of pretcrring thofe of the royal family, when they w re not excelled by the merit of another competitor. The emperor Motezuma, the fecond of the name, and the eleventh Sovereign of Mexico, w.is of the royal blood. In his youth he had diftinguifhed him- felf in war, and obtained the reputation of a brave general, which, together with his exerting the Jircs of popularity, had raifcd him to the throne by the unanimous voice of the people. Ke had reigned fourteen years when Cortes arrived on his coalt, and is reprefented by the Spanilh writers, perhaps to pal- liate the cruelty of his conquerors, as one of the greateft tyrants recorded in hiftory. Juan Grijalva had landed in his dominions the year before, and it is faid that about that time there happened many prodi- gies ^;hich were fuppoled to prelage the ruin of his empire. Thefe figns and portents, fome of which were perhaps invented by the difaffefted, made a very deep impreflioii on the mind of Motezuma, and difturbed his counfellors to fuch a degree, that when they received a fecond meflage from Cortes, they concluded themfelves to be utterly ruined. Mo- tezuma at length refolved to fend another prefent to Cortes, with orders to leave the coaft -, and in cafe of his refufal, to levy a powerful army, and to a6t againft him with all his forces. While Motezuma's court was employed in delibera- tions, Francifco de Montejo, whom Cortes had lent to examine the coaft, returned from his cruife, hav- ing found at the diftance of fome leagues to the north- v/ard a town called Qiiiabiflan, fituated in a fertile gnd well cultivated foil, near a bay, where the fliips might ride at anchor in fafety, under, the flicker of I'i.in'v .> * " foir.s 1 18 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, fomc high rocks. This place was about twelve leagues tliftant from St. Juan dc Ulua, and Cortes was be- ginning to think of removing thither, when his re- iblution was fufpendcd by the arrival of Tcutiic with the principal captains of his troops, who came burnr ing incenle to him in little perfuming pans, and after the ceremony of fumigation, produced Motezuma's fecond prcfent, which confided of tlic fume particu- lars as thofe of which the firft had been compofcd, though in a fm.aller quantity, together with three green ftones refembling emeralds to be prefcnted to the king of Spain, as jewels of ineftimable value. Thefe wci^ delivered with expreis orders to Cortes and his followers to leave the country without delay •, but the Spaniards ftill infiftirig that they would fee the monarch in perfon, Tei'tilc Itarted up with marks of anger and confufion, and told Cortes that hitherto Motezuma had treated him as a guell, and it would be his own fault if he was ufed as an enemy. He then, without waiting for an anfwer, abruptly depart- ed, and was followed by Pilpatpe and the reft of hi? attendants. Cortes immediately ordered the guards to be doubr led, and the next day the Spaniards had the morti- fication to find that the Indians who inhabited Pil- patoe's cabbins were retired -, and that there was not an Indian to be feen. The apprehenfion of their wanting necelTaries, now raifed a Ipirit of difcontenc among the foldiers, which was fomented by fome of them who were the friends of Velafquez. Cortes was well acquainted with thefe murmurs, but leara- ing from his friends that the majority were on his fide, he appeared before the malecontents : Diego de .Grdaz, in name of the reft, remonftrated with ibme warmth, that as his forces were very imequal to the de- fign of fubduing a mighty empire, it was high time to return to Cuba, where they might be reinforced in fuch a manner as would enable them to purfup tills great defign with fome probability of fpccefs. if Cortes, by HERNANDO CORTES. 219 Cortes, though highly provoked at this advice, which oppofed all his ambitious views, replied with great compolure, that he had no inclination to lay the lead rellraint upon his foldiers, and fince they were unwilling to proceed, he would immediately prepare for their return to Cuba. He foon after gave directions for their returning to that ifland, and ordered the captains to embark with their refpedlive companies, that they might be ready to fail the next morning : but this declaration was no fooncr made public, than his emiflTaries began to exclaim with great warmth, that* Cortes had deceived them, by profef- fing that he was refolved to make a fettlement in that country, which notwithftanding their unexpedt- ed fuccefs, he was on the point of deferting, and that if he had a mind to abandon the enterprize, he might, with fijch as were willing to follow him : for they /hould foon find another gentleman who would af- fume the command. This clamour was fo artfully managed, that it brought over many of thofe who had elpoufed the contrary party, and increafed to fuch a degree, that fome of Cortes's friends were obliged to interpofe, in order to put a ftop to the difturbance they thcmfelvcs had raifed. Cortes agreed to proceed with ilich as were willing ; and to caufe a Ihip to be provided for carrying back thofe who wanted courage to follow him and his friends. This reply was re- ceived with acclamations of joy, and had fuch an effeft, that thofe who were dilfatisfied, carefully conr cealed their difcontent. The diflenfion among his men was no fooner qui- eted, than Cortes was vifited by five deputies from the cacique of Zempoaila, a neighbouring province in the road to the place where he intended to remove his quarters -, who came to offer him the friendlhip and alliance of their m after. They differed in their habit from the Mexican chiefs, though like them ; they had rings in their ears and lips, to which hung jewels. Cortes gave them a very civil reception, or- i-.:. -.. dered 220 The Conquefl of M £ X I C O, ^ dered them to he well treated, and was greatly pleaf- ed at hearing that the Zempoallans, though tributary to Motezuma, were diflatisfied with his yoke, and repreiented him as a proud and cruel prince ; whence h^ forcfaw, that he fliould be able to engage thefe people to facilitate his future fuccefs. He therefore difmilTed the deputies with prefents, and with orders to alTure the cacique of his friendfhip, and of his paying him a vifit in his way to Quiabiflan. Cortes, in order to dived himfelf of his uneafy dependence upon Velafquez, and to remove his want of legal authority, laid, in concert with his friends, the plan of a corporation to be eftablifhed in fome place on the continent, and feveral perfons were cho- fcn to fill the offices of government. Thele imme- diately appointed a clerk of the council, with other inferior officers, and having taken the accuftomed oaths, to aft according to the rules of jurtice, and their duty to God and the king, began to exercife their fiindions. The next morning the council be- ing afTembled, under the pretence of confuking the augmentation and prefervation of the fettlement to be made, which was to have the name of l^illa Rica de la Vera Cruz, Cortes defired admittance, to propofe an affair relating to the public welfare. He laid open the reafons v/hich induced him to difiipprove the com- milTion under which he had aded, then threw upon the table what he had received from Diego Velaf- quez i kiflfed the truncheon -, delivered it into the hands of the Alcalde, and then retired to his houfe, in the capacity of a private man. The council, ac- cording to a preconcerted agreement, unanimoufly admitted of his refignation, and with the fame una- nimity voted that he fhould be appointed general of the army, and that they would make out a new com- miffion in the king's name, to be in force till they could know his majelly's pleafure. Cortes accepted of this poll with great refpeft, and began to govern the troops with a kind of au- thority m by HERNANDO CORTES. 221 thority that fecured the obedience of the foldiers. The friends of Velafquez, however, could not dif- guife their vexation ; but reiented this alteration in a very indifcreet manner : they endeavoured to inva- lidate the authority of the council j loudly inveighed again ft the ambition of Cortes ; and began to raife a diflenfion, that feemed to threaten the ruin of the expedition. Upon this Cortes ordered Diego de Or- daz, Pedro Efcudero, and Juan Velafquez de Leon to be feized, carried on board the fleet, and put in irons. No body was at firft allowed to vifit them, but afterward their friends were admitted, and among the reft fome of his confidents,, who found means to reduce them to reafon. He then fuffered himfelf to be pacified, and fo efFe£lually conciliated their affec- tions, that they afterwards ftood by him with un- ihaken fidelity. Cortes, having re-eftabliftied his authority, now prepared for leaving this part of the country ; and directing the ftiips to fail fv^r the bay of Quiabiflan, refolved to march thither by land. In a few hours he reached the river of Zempoalla, which being very deep, the troops crofied it in canoes, and other vefTels belonging to fome tifhermen, which they found on the Ihore, the horfes being obliged to fwim. The army foon after arrived at fome houfes in the diftrid of Zempoalla, which they found entirely abandoned : though the natives left in their temples feveral idols, with knives made of flint, and fome mile* rable remains of human viflims. Here they firft faw the Mexican books, three or four of which were in the tem- ples, and were fuppoled to contain the rites of their re- ligion. Each was made of thin varnilhed cloth, folded in leaves and made up into volumes, refembling ours. Next day the Spaniards continued their march ^ but faw not one perfon during the whole morning, till entering fome very agreeable meadows they dil- covered twelve Indians, who were coming in fcarch of Cortes, with a prefent of fowls and bread from the cacique of Zempoalla, who invited him to his town, 222 ^hc Conqueit of M E k I C O, town, where he had provided quarters for his troops: Cortes difmifled fix of the Indians, with thanks for the holpitality of their prince, and detained the reft as guides to the town, which they told him was at the diftance of a day's journey. Zempoalla was a large city that afforded a beauti- ful profped. It Was fituated between two rivers ; the buildings were of ftone, whitened on the out- fide with a fort of fhining lime, which at a diftance had fuch a noble effedl, that one of the fcouts return- ed in hafte to Cortes, crying aloud that the walls were of lilver. At their entering it, the fquares and itreets were filled with a multitude of people drawn together by curiofity, and the cacique himfelf ap- peared at the gate of his palace, ilipported by fome of his nobles, for he was fo extremely fat, that he could not move without much difficulty. A mantle of fine cotton, enriched with jewels, was thrown over his naked body, and he wore pendants in his ears and lips. On his approaching to falute Cortes, his unwieldy appearance made it neceffary for that general to put a ftop to the laughter of his foldiers : he received Cortes in his arms, and welcomed both him and the reft of the captains in fuch fenfible ex- prefiions as created refpeft, and having defired Cor- tes to repofe himfelf after his journey, told him that he would vifit him at his lodgings, where they would converle more at leifure about their mutual interefts^ -The troops then retired to the quarters provided for them, accommodated with provifions and other ne- ceiTaries. The cacique foon after fent a prefent to Cortes of jewels, gold and other curiofities, and followed this prefent in perfon, carried on a chair on the fhoulders of the chief of his family, and attended by a fplen- did retinue. Cortes went out to receive him, and retiring to a private apartment with him and the in- terpreters, expatiated upon the grandeur of the king of Spain, and the errors of idolatry •, telling him that the defign of his coming with his valiant troops, J ^ was by HERNANDO CORTES. 22- was to redrcls wrongs, to puni(h violence, and to vindicate the caufe of reafon and juftice. He art- fully touched on this fubje<5t, in order to draw him to complain of Motezuma, that he might difcover what advantages he might expedt to reap from his refentment againft that prince ; and, indeed, the words were no fooner pronounced, than he began to utter his complaints, and to obferve that the neigh- bouring caciques groaned under the tyranny of Mo- tezuma; but concluded with obferving, that he did not wiih to engage Cortes in a quarrel with fuch a potent emperor, whofe power was irrefiftible. Cor- tes immediately replied, that while he had juflice on his fide he fliould pay but little regard to Motezu- ma's power. In (hort, having continued the conver- fation for Ibme time, the cacique took his leave, highly latisfied, while Cortes was equally pleafed at the profped of ftrengthening his intereft by fuch a powerful alliance. '/hen the troops were re^dy to march, they found dz ^ dians provided to carry their baggage and provuions, and 10 help to condudt the artillery. The country they now entered was fertile and plea- fanr, a part of it was laid out in corn fields, and the reft covered with trees. 'I'hey (laid all night at a little village they found deferted, and the next morn- ing arrived at Quiabiflan, a town ftrongly fituatcd upon a rock, with the avenues to it narrow and fteep. But though this place was naturally ftrong, they en- tered it without oppofition, nor did they perceive any perfon, till coming to a fquare in which the In- dian temples wdre placed, fourteen or fifteen of the natives handfomely adorned with feathers, came out to meet them. Cortes encouraged them by his affabi- lity, and gave them fome glafs beads -, when reco- vering their fpirits, they informed him that the ca* cique had retired in order to avoid a war, as he neither chofe to deny them admittance, nor to truft his perfon among armed troops that were entirely unknown to him^ and that the inhabitants could - . . ' not 1; £24 The Conqueft of* M E X I C O, not be prevented from following his example : but that as foon as they (hould be fenfible of the goodnefs of fuch guelts, they would rtturn to their houies, and eileem it their happintfs to ferve and obey them. Cortes gave them the llrongeft aflu^ ranees of his friendfnip, and gave ftri6l orders to the foldiers, to behave with great civility to thele Indians, who foon fhewed the confidence they placed in the Spaniards ; for fome families returned that very night, and in a little time the town was filled with its iiihibitants. ac i Some time after, the cacique himfelf retufned^ and was introduced by the cacique of Zempoalla, both of whom were tarried on mcn*s fhoulders, and the latter made an handfome excufe for his frend. The converfation turned upon the tyranny of Mo- tezuma, whom they reprelcnted as a monfter, who not only impoveriflied them by the tribute he de- manded, bat robbed them of their wives and daugh- ters, with whofe blood he ftained the altars of his gods, after ha\^ing faciificed their honour to more fhameful purpo'es. In the midil of their difcourfe they were interrupt- ed by the entrance of two or three Indians who feemed to be in a great fright, and whifpering the caciques, put them in fuch confufion, that they changed colour, and haftily retired. I'he caufe of this diforder was inftantly known -, for fix commif- faries from Motezuma were feen pafling before the quarters of the Spaniards, richly adorned with fea- thers and pendants of gold, and attended by a num- ber of officers and fervants. Cortes went to the gate to fee them, when they paiTed by without pay- ing him the leaft refpe6t, and with fuch a eontemp- tuous look, that the foldiers would have imnicdiate-- ly chaftized them, had they not been reftrainrd by their general, who contented himfelf with fend- ing Marina with a fufficicnt guard, to know the caufe of their coming. By this means he under- itood, that the commifTaries, after having feated 5 , them- by HERNANDO CORTES. 225 thcmfelves in the town-houfe, fummoncd the ca- ciques to appear before them; and having fharply' " reprimanded them for prefuming to entertain the em- peror's enemies, demanded, over and above the or- dinary tribute, twenty Indians to be facrificed to the gods, as an atonement for their crime. Cortes no fooner received this intelligence, than he ordered fome foldiers to bring the caciques without noife, and telling them, that he knew the inhuman pur- pofe of the commiffaries, which he would not TufFer them to obey ; he defired them to aflemble their people to feize the Mexicans, and to leave the reft to his coniduft. The caciques at firft refufed to comply with this bold command, till Cortes repeating his order in a peremptory manner, they went and executed it; and having feized Motezuma's minifters, put them * in a kind of pillory in their prifons, to the great fatisfaftion of the people, who demanded that they (hould either die the death of traitors, or be inftant- ly facrificed to their gods. Cortes however refufed to grant this requeft, and having fecured them by a guard of Spanilh foldiers, retired to his quarters, in order to contrive fome method of extricating him- felf from the difficulty in which he was involved. He was unwilling to come to an open rupture with Motezuma, and yet thouoht it neceflary to fupport the party he had already formed againft that prince, in order to have their affiftance, in cafe he Ihould happen to want it. In confequence of thefe reflec- tions, he, at midnight, fent for two of the prifoners, whom he treated in a very obliging manner, told them they were at liberty, and as he had reftoicd their freedom, they might affure their prince that he would fpeedily endeavour to releafe the reft of their companions, and to make the caciques fenfible of their fault. The Mexicans heard this declaration with equal joy and aftonifhment, but durft not fet out on their journey, for fear of being killed or Vol. I. Q^ \ taken \ 5! %z6 The Conqueft of M E X I C 0, taken by the way ; the Spani(h foldiers were there^ fore ordered to condu£): them to the bay, and one of t)K ihip*s boats carried them beyond the diftridfc oif Zcmpoalla. The next morning the caciques came to Cortes, and exprelTing great concern at the efcape of the ^i^foners, he received the news with the appearance of much furpri^ and vexation •, but propofed, in order to prevent any accident of the like kind for the future, to take care of the reft himfeif, and im- $kdiatel|r ordered them to be carried on board the 0eet* Thus, by a duplicity of condu£b, without lofing the confidence of the caciques, he conferred an obligation on Motezuma, the greatncfs of whofe power made him unwilling to provoke his reient- mcnt. The moderation with which the Spaniards behav- ed towards their allies, was quickly made known to the neigbouring diflridts, and in a few days, Cortes was vifited by above thirty caciques of the moun- tains within fight of Quiabiflan -, thefe fwore to be faithful to the king of Spain, and ofiered to affift Cortes againft Motezuma. t . i : Cortes now refolved to fettle the corporation of Villa Rica de la Cruz, which had hitherto nK)ved with the army ; for which purpofe he pitched upon a plain between Quiabiflan and the fea, where the foil was extremely fertile, well watered with ri- vers, and abounding with trees, that were commo- . dioufly fituatcd for the cutting of timber for build- ing. They began with laying the foundation of a church, and the Spaniards, being aOi&jd by their ^ Indian friends, both that and the houfcs were foon ' erefted ; for the officers, and even Cortes himfelf* fet an example to the reft, by performing the moft difficult work : by this means the town was foon compleated, and encompafled with a mud wall, fuf- ficient to defend it againft all the methods of attack wfcd by the Indians. ^ ,.-. I- '!» by liiERNANDO CORTES. 417 In the mean time, Motezuma being informed that the cacique of Zempoalla, whofe fidelity was fuf- pelted, had admitted the ftrangers into his town ; refolved not only to challize this rebellious tributary^ but to march in perfon againft the Spaniards. But his preparations for this enterprize were fufpended by the arrival of the two Indians, who had been re- leafed by Cortes. Thefe gave an account of theit imprifonnient i of their owing their liberty to the cap* tain of the ftratigers ; of his courteous treatment^ and the meffagc he had ordered them to deliver : upon which Motezuma's anger was mitigated, and he refolved to have again recourfe to negotiation. The Mexican ambafladors arrived juft as the neW fettlement and fortrels of Vera Cruz was compleated* Thefe were two younpf men who were the emperor's nephcwsi attended by four ancient caciques, who were to ferve as counfellors. They had a fplendid retinue, and thie prefent, which confided of gold^ feathers and cotton, was valued by the Spaniards at 2000 pieces of eight. They told Cortes that the em- peror was determined to chaftize the caciques, till the account he had received of his behaviour had induced him to fufpend his vengeance 5 that he how- ever hoped he would foon quit that country, fined the obilacles which oppofed his coming to courts were in their own nature unfurmountable. Cortes, according to his ufual cuftom, received the prefents made him by the emperor, with grcac fefpeft, and ordering the four imprifoned officers to be brought afliore, delivered them to the ambafla- dorsi obferving, that he was highly pleafed at hav- ing fuch an opportunity of fhewing his regard to the emperor : that he thought the infolence of the caciques in fome meafure cxcufable ; from the ex- travagant behaviour of the officers themfelves, who not iatisfied with the ufual tribute, had the inhuma- nity to demand twenty Indians for their iacrifices* That he thought himfelf obliged to the caciques 0^2 for k :> if 228 The Conqucft of MEXICO, ' for admitting and entertaining Ijjim in their territo- ries, and therefore could not ht\p interceding wich Motezuma on their behalf; efpecially as they, to- gether with the caciques of the mountains, were now in a peculiar manner under his protedion: that he would communicate the particulars of his cmbalTy when he Ihould appear in the emperor*s pre- fence; and that no impediments or danger fhould prevent his receiving that favour. With this refo- lute anfwer, and fome prcfents to the ambaffadors, and others for Motezuma, he difmiiTed them, great- ly di0*atisfied at his obftinacy. Not long after thefe tranfadions, the cacique of Zempoalla canle to Vera Cruz, and told Cortes, that the time was now come for him to proteft his coun- try againft the Mexicans, who had arrived at Zim- pazingo, whence they made excurfions into his dif- tridt, deftroying the^ corn fields, and committing other a6ts of hoftility. Cortes thought himfclf obliged to fupport his new allies, and that it would not become hi*m to fuffer the infolence of the Mexi- cans in a manner within his fight. He therefore dcfired the cacique to provide Indians to carry his baggage, and draw his artillery ; which being done, hf fet out at the head of 400 Spaniards, leaving the reft in th( fortrefs of Vera Cruz. On his paffing by Zc'mp'>alla, he was joined by 2000 armed Indians, aflefni led by the cacique, to ferve under him in this expedition. The farre night he quartered his troops three leagues from Zimpazingo, and the next day in the afternoon difcovered the town, fituated on the top of a fmall hill among great rocks, which con- cealed part of the buildings, and rendered it difficult of accefs. The Spaniards with much fatigue pafled over the rocks, without meeting with the leaft refiftancc ; but juft as they were preparing to attack the town, in feveral places at once, eight ancient priefts ap- peared, clothed in black mantles that reached to ' ' 4 • ^hc by HERNANDO CORTES. 229 the ground, the upper part gathered about the neck, and a piece hanging-- loofe in the torm of a hood : ' they had long hair which was clotted, and their hands ■, and faces ilained with the blood of humati 1acriB.es. Thefe men approached the general with marks of the ' moft humble fubmiffion, and foon convinced him • that he had been impofed upon •, fince Motezuma's troops had retired fomc time bef(Te, and that this was only an artifice of his allies wh j were their inve- terate enemies, in order to make him the inftrumcnt of their deftru6tion. Cortes being provoked at the deceit, ordered the capt tins Olido and Alverado to march with their companies, and aflemble the In- dians, who had advanced before to get into the town. They were now bufy in plundering it, and making prifoners, and being brought into his prefence, loaded with booty, and followed by the miferable inhabi- tants crying aloud for juftice, he commanded them to deliver up the goods to the priefts, that they might reftore them to the proper owners. Then calling for the Zempoallan captains, told them with a threaten- ing voice, that they had forfeited their lives by their prefumption, in engaging him, by deceit, to compafs their revenge. Having reprimanded the Zempoallans, he ordered them to lodge without the town, while he himfelf entering it with the Spaniards, was received with the applaufes due to a deliverer, and vifited by the cacique, with others in that neighbourhood, who voluntary acknowledged themfelves fubjeft to the king of Spain. He now formed a fcheme for recon- ciling thefe Indians and. the Zempoallans, which he had the happinefs to effect ; and having made them friends, he returned to Vera Cruz, leaving his repu- tation and intereft highly advanced by the iffue of this expedition, which he had too creduloufly un- dertaken i and thus, like a confummato politician, he made even his very errors contribute to his grand defign. • • *?^^ 0^3 > On ^ \ •i 230 The Coijqucft of M E X I C O, On his return, he found the caciques of ZempoalU waiting for him at fome diftance from the town, with a large quantity of provifions for the refrefhment of the army ; when obferving that chief appeared afhamed of his condud, he alTured him that he had laid afide his difpkafure, and they having entered the town to- gether, the cacique made him a prefent of eight of the moft beautiful virgins, who were of good fa- milies : they were adorned with gold necklaces and pendants, and attended by feveral women fervants. Seven of thefe the cacique alloted for the captains, and the other being his own niece, he recommended as a wife to Cortes, in order that their friend(hip might be ftrengthencd by the ties of blood. The general returned him thanks, and let him know that it was unlawful for a Spaniard to marry any woman who was an idolater, and took this opportunity of declaring againfl their idolatry and fuperftition. Soon after the Zempoallans aiTembled in one of their moft folemn feftivals, in order to offer human facrifices, which were performed with horrible cere- monies i when the wretched vidims being cut tp pieces were fold to the people as facred food. Cortes being foon informed of this affair, was filled with in- dignation, and forgetting every other motive, ordered the cacique and principal Indians, who attended him, to be brought before him, and with them pro- ceeded to the temple, followed by his troops. The priefts being informed of his approach, immediately ran to the gate, and with loud and hideous outcries called the people to the defence of their gwds. Al l^ieh fome armed Indians pofted themfelves in the avenues of the temples ; when Cortes feeing the in- habitants a0embling in great numbers, ordered Ma- rina to tell them aloud, that the Brft arrow they fhould let fly, he would order the throats of the cacique and 4II the principal Indians in his power to be cut, and then punilh their prefumption with fire and fword. The cacique trembled at this dreadful menace, and con\-' th of e4 de 0- of "a- is, ;d by HERNANDO CORTES. 831 commanding them to lay down their arms and retire, they obeyed with the utmoft expedition. Cortes then began to declaim againil the barbarity and abfurdity of their religion, and at length propofed to the In- dians, that they themielves (hould afcend the (leps, and overthrow the idols with their own hands : but proftrating themfelves upon the ground, they declared with tears and the mpil dreadful lamentations, that they would fuffer all the extremed tortures he could invent, rather than be guilty of committing fuch an impious facrilege. Cortes giving the command to his foldiers, the idols were in an inftant thrown down and broken to pieces ; while the Indians (lood motionlefs with horror, every moment expefting to fee the im- mediate vengeance of heaven fall on thcfe impious men : but at length perceiving that they remained unhurt, and that the gods were unable to defend themfelves, their horror fubfided, and changed into fuch contempt, that they themfelves joined with the Spaniards in burning the fragments of their idols ; and the next day mafs was ipelebrated in that very temple. - ^'^ • The Spaniards now returned to Vera Cruz •, and the fame day they reached that new colony, a veffel arrived from Cuba, commanded by Francifco de Salcedo, which brought Captain Luis Martin, ten foldiers, and two horfes. By thefc gentlemen the general was informed, that Velafquez had obtained the title of King's Lieutenant of tho ifland of Cuba, with a com million to trade and make fettlements in the new difcovered countries, and that he was re- iblved to put a ftop to Cortes's proceedings. Upon this information, the latter was determined to lay the affair before the king : at his defire the council of Vera Cruz wrote a particular account of the expe- dition, and of Velafquez's injurious behaviour to- wards him i befeeching his majefty, in confideration of his great merit, to grant him the commiffion of Captain-general, that he might exert himfelf in the 0^4 feryic? I f ^32 The Conqueft of MEXICO, fervicc of his country, without having any dtfpcn- dancc on the governor of Cuba. Thcfe difpatches were committed to Alonzo Hernan^^es Portocarrero and Fraiicifco Montejo : but Cortes thinking that the fifth part of the gold they had coUedcd would be but a trifling prefent for the king, pieviilcd with the officers and foldiers to refign their Ihares j accordingly the above officers embarked for Spain on the i6th of July 1519, and carried alfo a particular prcfent from Hernando to his father Martin Cortes. v'. Thefe deputies had bern but jull fent to Spain, when Tome of the friends of Velafquez privately con- certed the means of cfcaping to Cuba, in order to give intelligence to Velalquez of thefe proceedings. For this purpofe they had lee u red one of the veflels •, but in the very night when they were going to em- bark, one of the accomplices went to Cortes, and informed him of the whole fcheme. He took his meafures with fuch fuccefs, that he feized all the per- fons concerned ; who being brought to their trial, two of die ringleaders were condemned to be hanged, others to other punilliments, and the reft were par- doned. . • . i- i^'i-^M 3?>*»f jMv- •!>, ••.?••* Cortes being very much difturbed at this confpi- racy, which might again breakout fo as to difconcert his whole fcheme, formed a refolution, that at once evinced the greatnefs and intrepidity of his mind : this was to dcftroy the fhips, that the foldiers being deprived of all means of efcape, might aft with greater ardour and unanimity, from their having no other choice but to conquer or die. Having com- municated this important fcheme to his confidents, they exerted th(-mfelves amongft the foldiers in fuch a manner, that they themfelves went to perfuade him to agree to it. Orders were accordingly given for bringintr on iliore the iron work, anchors, fails, and every thing that might be of ufe, and then to fink them all, except the boats, which were referved for fiftiing. r.v.:f iiJ:- mit .'iisfiirs-n'mtfiBJ *i' b But no ftcp, thai ftroyed fccn, am to avoid, upon the cxprefs t went to of the vc the fiiore whom Wi with a f ( a writing vernor oi and ther( to make .he pape be bettei the com ftiore, ir amicable direfted. cloaths, were to quence ( rtiip witl ing, wit which ft boat's CI weighed inlifted recruit < z very c Havi advance march 1 and in belongi he ere(S by HERNANDO CORTES. 233 But no fooncr had Cortes taken this extraordinary ftcp, than all the advantage of it feemcd to be dc- ftroyed by an accident that could not polTibly be forc- Icen, and which it was therefore impofTible for him to avoid. This was the arrival of a fmall fquadron upon the coalV, of which he received advice by an cxprcfs from Jiun d-* Efcalante. He immediately went to Vera Cruz, and at his arrival perceived one of the vcflcls at anchor at a coniiderable diftance from the (liore, where were landed three Spaniards, one of whom was a pulilic notary. Cortes went to them with a IVniill parry, when the notary delivered to him a writing, which contamed in luhltmce, that the go- vernor ot Jamaica laid claim to a part of that country, and therefore lent to inform Corres, thit he was not to make a fcctlemcnt tlicre. Cortes dtv lined taking -he paper, and very mildly told him, rhat it wovild be better if Captain Pmcda, -vho he uiKierltoovl was the commander of the fqiuidron, woiiLl coqie on fhore, in order that they micrht adjutl ihc affair in ai amicable manner. But hnding that nobody cspc- he direfted three of his men to put on the p uorfrs cloaths, and to go down to the fea-fide, where they were to make lignals with their cloaks. In confe- quencc of this ftraragem a boat came off from the (hip with twelve men well armed, and four men land-, ing, with an Indian, advanced toward them. By which ftratagem he got thefe into his hands ; but the boat's crew rowed back to the veffel, which foon after weighed anchor and ftood to fea. Thefe men readily inlifted under him, and Cortes retu* i-d with a fmall recruit of feven Spaniards, which Wiii then elleemed a very confiderable reinforcement. Having formed his little arn /, and appointed an advanced party to reconro";rc, Cortes began his march toward Mexico, on the i6th of Auguft 1519, and in the way was kindly entertained at the towns belonging to the confederates, in each of which places he created a crofs, and exhorted the people ro forbear tJUrj ' offering I 434 The Conqueft of MEXICO, ;! oSering human facrifices. They now entered upon - the rough part of the mountains, where they were obliged to march for three days over rocks and pre- cipices, in cojd and rainy weather, without any thing to fhelter thcmfelves from the inclemency of the air. They next entered into the large and populous province of Zocathlan, where in a valley at the foot of a mountain, was a city of the fame name, in which the cacique refided. Cortes fent two Zempoallans to inform this prince of his arrival, who foon returned with a favourable anfwer. The cacique came out of the city with a great retinue, and received the ge- neral with a kind of forced civility. The Spaniards here found very incommodious quarters ; Cortes, however, concealed his refentment, in order to give that prince no opportunity of engaging him in hofti- lities that would inevitably obftrudt his march. The jiext day the cacique vifited Cortes at his quarters, when the latter received him with great civility, and among other queftions, afked whether he was fubjefl: to the emperOr of Mexico ? when the Other replied, Is there any man upon earth, who is not a flave to Motezuma ? To which Cortes fcorn- fuUy replied. That he himfelf, i^nd thofe who accom- panied him, obeyed another king who had many iubjefts more powerful than Motezuma. But the cacique, without attending to thefe words, proceeded to difplay the grandeur of his emperor ; the provinces under his dominion, he faid, were innumerable, and obferved that he had many lords who ferved bare-foot in his palace, with their eyes fixed on - the ground i adding, that he refided in the larged, mod beautiful, and ftrongeft city in the univerfc, founded in the Jmidft of lakes. Cortes eafily difcovered the intent of this difcourfe, lYhich h»d been dilated by the court of Mexico, to deter him from proceeding j but feeming not to pe- netrate into his defign, he replied that he was already informed of Mocezuma's grandeur, and that his em- arms. ^ by HERNANDO CORTES. 235 baffy being peaceable, his men were appointed rather to ihew his authority, than as a martial guard i but yet the mofl: inconfiderable Spaniard was able to over- throw a whole army of Indians. That he fought for peace ; but if he was compelled to engage in war, he would deftroy his enemies with fire and fword ; for nature would alTift him with her prodigies, and heaven with its lightning, This rodomontade had a furptifmg effeft, and the cacique was fo over-awed by it, that he entirely altered his condud, and fup- plied the Spaniards with provifions in great plenty, during the five days Cortes ftaid there. Cortes now proceeded on his march to the province of Tlafcala, that bordered upon Zocathlan, and for fevcral days nothing confiderable happened : but afterward hearing that the whole country was in arms, he refolved to halt at a fmall town called Xacazingo, till he (hould be better informed of their defigns. The province of Tlafcala was about 50 leagues ii^ circumference, and though the land was mountainous and uneven, it abounded with inhabitants. The ca- pital was built upon diflTerent eminences. The peo- ple at firft were governed by kings, till growing weary of their tyranny, they fhook off the yoke, and formed themfelves into a regular commonwealth. To this republic Cortes fent four of the principal Zempoallans, who were fully inftru6ted by Aguilar and Marina, how to addrefs the Senate, in demanding a pafiage for the Spaniards through their territories. They inftantly put on the appearance of ambafladors, each wearing on his (houlder a wreathed cotton-tippet knotted at the ends •, in the right hand a large arrow, and on the left arm a target, formed of tortoife-fhell. Upon thefe occafions, when the purport of the em- bafiy was war, the feathers of the arrow were red » but when their errand was peace, they were white, ^y thefe fymbols the ambaif^dors were known and ' refpedted 236 The Conqucft of MEXICO, '• refpedcd on the high roads ; but if they turned afide thev forfeited their privileges Corces's tour envoys on their entering Tlafcala, were condudted t > a huiife fet apart for the reception of ambalfadors, and the next diy brought into the fenate. Atier a fhort conterr^nce, the fenators told the ambaflAoors, that they gratefully received the falutation of the cont'ederates ; but muft deliberate upon the anf/zer to be returned to the (Irangers. The Indians then retired to their lodging, when Cortes*s demand produced very obftinate debates. Tome in- filling upon repelling him by force of arms, and others propofing a compliance with his requcft. The chief of thofe who elpoufcd pacific fentiments was an old fenator named Magifcatzen, a perfon of great au- thority in the republic, who reminded them of a pro- phecy, that an invincible race of men would come from the eaft, with fuch dominion over the elements, that they Ihould form floating cities upon the feas, and ufe fire and air to fubdue the earth. Thefe ftrangers he alleged were certainly the people fore- told ; and, that as they only defired a paflkge through their country, they could not refufe it without being guilty of incivility to thofe who had never injured them, nor without dilrefped to their allies, by whom they werefo warmly recommended. -' Magifcatzen's fpeech was received with applaufe ; but the favourable difpofitions he infpired were in- tirely changed by the interpofition of Xicotencal their general, a young man animated by ambition, who ridiculed the prophecy, and reprefented the Spaniards as common men, whofe veflfels and arms were pro- duced by human art, whole valour was not uncom- mon, and vhofe pride, cruekv, and avaric^-, were intolerable. He therefore c\irne(tly intreared that they would allow him to afle ■ ble the to ces, and ex- terminate them at once, ns the o-. preffjrs of their country and the enemies of their religion. Thcfc fide by HERNANDO CORTES. 237 Thefe arguments had great weight with a people ambitious of military glory : they therefore ordered their general to try his ftrength with the Chriftians, but detained the ambafladors. Cortes having waited eight days for the return o^ his ambaHTadors, deteimined to continue his march towards the city of 1 lafcala, that in cafe they were refolvcd on hoftilities, he mighr -attack them before they were joined by their allies ; by which prudent refolution he prevented their obtaining time to guard, a ilrong (lone wall which was 20 fcei thick, and 9 feet high, with a parapet upon the top : it reached crofs the valley, extending from one mountain to another, and had no other entrance but in the mid- dle, where the two ends circularly crofled each other for the rpace of ten paces, and might have eafily been defended againft all invaders. The Spaniards having pailcd this wall without oppofition, marched iji good order with their artillery ready, and with ad- vanced pariitrs to prevent furpnze. Thefe parties aC length dilcovered 20 or 30 Indians at a confiderable diftance, wijo by iheir plumes appeared to be foldiers. The Indians took to their heels till having joined the main body, which was at lome diftance, they faced about, and ftood in a polture of defence. At this inltant ihe panifh inlaniry came up, formed them- felves into a battalion, and with the firft volley of the fire-arms threw the Indians into diforder. Of this the Spaniards taking advantage fell upon them with fuch refolution, that in a fliort time they quitted the field. Proceeding on their march the next day, they were oppofed by a larger body of the enemy, which ad- vanced with great noife, and having difcharged a flight of arrows and a large quantity of ftones from their flings, retreated, making a kind of running fight v but Cortes imagining that this retreat was on- ly a ft:ratagem, followed in clofe order, till having reached the top of a hill he difcovered a plain, where was I l^S The Cdnqucft of MEXICO, '' was an army of about 40,000 men, compofed of various nations, diftinguiftied by the colours of their cnfigns and plumes. The Spaniards boldly marched down the hill; formed on the even ground, and moved on to the attack, while the Indians ftill retired, till finding them at a diftance from the hill, they opened to the right and left, and ran furioufly to occupy the ground on both fides, and then clofing in a circle^ furrounded the Spaniards, who found it ne- ceffdry to throw themlblves into an hollow fquare, in order to fudain the fury of the aflailants. The air Was foon darkened with the arrows, darts and ftones, Which fell upon the Spaniards, till the Indians ob- ferving the little cffeft of thefe miflive weapons, boldly attacked them with their pikes and fwords. But the artillery fwept down whole companies ; the fmall arms killed them in heapsj and Cortes breaking in among them with his horfe, flew ind trampled under foot all that came in his way. During the battle Pedro de Moron, who vtis mounted on horfe- back, was furrounded and taken by the Indians after having received feveral wounds 5 but though he was Ibon releafed by the reft of the cavalry, his horfe was killed. The Spaniards being greatly fatigued, began to be dubious of fuccefs, when the cries of the enemy fud- denly ceafcd, and this filence was followed by the noife of horns and drums founding a retreat. The enemy then moving off flowly, leS the field to the Chriftians : biit notwithftanding the lofs of moft of their officers, they entered their quarters in triumph, with the horfe's head carried as a trophy before the feneral, who fent it to Tlafcala, where it was facri- ced with extraordinary folemnity in one of the tem* pies. Nine or ten of the Spanifh foldiers, and many of the Zempoallans, who were fired by the example of the Spaniards, were wounded in this battle, which Was no fooner over, than Cortes obferving a fmall town on an eminence that commanded the country, marched by HERNANDO CORTES. 2^9 inarched thither, and had the fatisfaflion of finding it well fupplied with provifions. The fcntiments of the Tiafcalans were ftill divided 5 for while fome cried out for peace, others were equally eager for continuing the war : Xicotencal demanded fupplies to revenge the. lofs they had fuffcred, afld one of the confederates arriving at the fame timt with 10,000 men, this fuccour encouraged them t6 profccute the war with trefli vigour. In the mean linFic the four Zempoallan ambaffadors returned by different ways to the Spaniards, and informed Corte^^ that as ibon as Xicotencal took the field, they were put in a prifon, and deftined by the Tiafcalans as fa- crifices to the God of war, but that they had happily found means to make their efcape. Though a profound ftillnefs reigned throughout the country, Cortes was far from imagining that he was- out of danger •, he therefore refolved to maintain his pofti but forefeeing that the Indians would interpret his inaftion as proceeding from fear, he refolved the next morning to reconnoitre the country, in order to gain intelligence ; and therefore marched out with all his horfe and 200 foot, which equally confided of Spaniards and Zempoallans. He advanced as far as fome villages in the road to Tlafcala, where he found great ftore of provifions, and made feveral prifoncrSy by whom he was informed that Xicotencal was en- camped about two leagues from thence, and -em- ployed in recruiting and augmenting his army. The Zempoallans being now highly incenfed againft the Tiafcalans, Cortes permitted them to deflroy the country with fire and fword, and then returned to the camp, where he fct at liberty all his prifoners, and among thofe who had been taken the day before, hte chofe two or three to carry a meflagc to Xicotencal^ in which he exprefiTed his concern for the lofs he had fudained in the battle •, and defired that he would now confent to an accommodation, othcrwife he ihould make the name of Tlafcala a terror to its neigh- ff 240 The Conqueft of MEXICO,(d neighbours. The prifoners at their departure pro* mifed to bring him an anfwer; and a few hours after they kept their word ; but returned bloody and mangled by Xicotencal's order, for prefuming to deliver fuch a meffage : with an anfwer that Xico- tencal would meet the Chriftians as foon as the fun arofe, when he did not doubt but that he fhould carry them alive to the altars of his gods •, and that to ihew how little he feared him, he gave him notice of his refolution, that he might have time to prepare himfelf. t +^5 Cortes, though piqued at Xicotencal's infolence» would not negled his advice : but at day-break took pofleflion of a fpot where he could receive the enemy with advantage. In a fhort time the fcouts returned with intelligence, that the enemy were upon their march, and foon after they appeared, when their number amounted to above 50,000 men, confiding of the whole ftrength of the republic and its allies. They difplayed a large golden eagle, which was the enfign of Tlafcala, and was never brought into the field, but upon the greateft undertakings, and at firft fcemed to advance with equal expedition and intre- pidity. On their coming within cannon (hot, the artillery filled them with fuch terror that they halted for fome time ; but at length ruflied forward in a throng till they were near enough to ufe their flings and arrows, when they were a fecond time ftopt by the difcharge of the fire-arms and crofs-bows. But at length they burft upon the Spaniards like a torrent, and broke their ranks by mere dint of weight and multitude: they, however, formed again j when on a fudden a great dillurbance appeared among the enemy, whofe troops moved to and fro, and turned their arms againft each other, till at length they re- tired in a tumultuous manner. The caufe of this difturbance and retreat was after- WwTd found to be owing to the infolence of Xico- tencal in upbraiding one of the confederate caciques — with by HERNANDO CORTES. 241 With cowardice, for not advancing when the reft were 'engaged. The Indian chief who had 10,000 men under his command, returned an angry anfwer, which being followed by a challenge^ the other caciques efpoufed their friend's quarrel, and immediately re- tired. Upon which Xicotencal, finding himfelf aban- doned by his allies, and having feen a great number of his people (lain upon the fpot^ left the Held. It is faid thdt Cortes loft only a fmgle foldier on this occafion j however, feveral of the men were very much difcouraged at their having been put into dif- order^ and loudly declared, that they would not fa- crifice their lives to Gortes's obftinacy, but return by themfelves to Vera Cruz, and leave him alone to fol- low the didbates of his ambition. This fpirit of mu- tiny made it neceflary for Cortes to aflemble the Ibl- diers, when he exerted his eloquence with fuch fuc- cefs, that orte of the mutineers cried aloud^ " JFellow- *' foldiers, our general is in the right, wc cannot *' now retire without being inevitably loft ;" and this opinion was immediately affented to by the whole iarmy. Mean while the Tlaftalans were fo intimidated by the ill fuccefs of the fecond battkj that they cried aloud for peace with the ftrangers, whom they cfteemed invincible. But the fenate concluding they were magicians, refolved to oppofe iachantmenc againft inchantment, and therefore conlulted their wizardsj who now pretended to have difcovered the caufe of their defeat. They aflerted that the Spaniards were the offspring of the Sun, whence they derived a fuperior power from the warmth of his beams ; but that when he difappeared they remained weak and difpirited. Hence they propofed that they ftiould bd attacked by night, and utterly deftroyed before they could be reanimated by the beams of their father. This abfurd piece of intelligence the fenate commu- nicated to Xicotencal, with orders to execute ir, and . Vol. I, R he • ' f 242 V The Conqucft of M EX I C O, I he immediately began to prepare for taking his mca- fures accordingly. ' i^- Mean while Cortes took particular care to preferve the ftrifteft difcipline, and with good reafon ; for on the night deftined for the attack, the out-centinels dif- covered a body of the enemy marching toward the town with unufual flownefs and filence, when notice being given of their approach, the foldiers manned the •\^orks without noife or cOnfiifion, and chearfblly waited to give them a warm reception. Xicotencal had 10,000 men under his command, whom he ordered to dttack the quarters on three fides at once, which they did with equal fpeed and relblution 5 but they met with fuch a powerful and unexpedled refiftance, that many were flain, and the reft were the more terrified' from their having been confident that they fhould find the Spaniards weak arid unprepared. Cortes no fooner perceived them retiring from the wall, than he fenc out part of his infantry, and all his horfe, furnilhed with breaft-plates full of bells, to charge the Indians, who were fo terrified at the unufual noife, that they fied in confufion, leaving a confiderable number of dead, and fome wounded, whom they were in too great a hurry to carry off. This victory was obtained by the lofs of one man, who was a Zempoallan. The news of this difappointment foon reached Tlafcala, when the inhabitants unanimoufly demanded peace, and juftice againft the magicians for having deceived them. The fenate aflfembling, agreed to punifii the impoftors, two of whom were immediately facrificed to thtir gods, and to apply to the ftrangers for forgivenefs, now firmly believing that they v^ere the c^kliial people mentioned in the propliecy. Mean while a mcfiengcr was fent to inform Xicotencal of the fenatc's refolution ; but that gt-neral being exafpcrated againft the Spaniards, from whom he longed to re- trieve his honour, abfolutely refufed to comply, and rcfolved to make a feconJ alTault by night : but in order order the lea* by HERNANDO CORTES. 245- order to know the nature and ftrength of their fortifi- cations, he employed 40 foldiers to enter the Spanilh quarters among the neighbouring pcafants, who re- fbrted thither to exchange provifions for baubles. Thefe fpies had fpent the greateft part of the morning among the Spaniards Unfufpeftcd, till a Zempoallan, who had obferved one of them narrowly examining the fortifications, communicated his fufpicion to Cortes, who inftantly ordered him to be put to the torture, when he made a full confeflion, in confe- qucnce of wliich his comrades were apprehended, and the whole fcheme difcovered. The general thea caufcd fifteen of the mofl: obftinate of thefe fpies to be punilhed, fome by lofingj a hand, and others their thumbs, and then difniifTcd them to tell Xicotencal that he was prepared for his coming, and had fent his fpies alive that they might acquaint him with the fitua- tion of his works. - . «». At this bloody fpedlacle the Indian army was (Iruck with horror and aftonilhment, and their meflage made a deep imprefllon on the general's mind. He now be- gan to think that the Spaniards could not have dif- covered his defign without a fupernatural information : but while he was reflefting on this fubjed, he was accofted by feveral perfons, fent by the fenate to divefl: him of his command. The Spaniards expected an attack all that night and the next day ; but on the fucceeding morning a de- putation came from the fenate and republic of Tlaf- cala to treat of peace : they were allowed to enter ; and being introduced to Cortes, they apologized for what was pad, fued for peace, and earneftly entreated him to march to their city, where the Spaniards (hould be ferved and refpefled as the children of the Snn, and the brothers of the gods. Cortes treated them with an affefted feverity, and told them, that, how- ever, peace was agreeable to his inclinations, and he would endeavour to appeafe the anger of his captains. R 2 Mote- «44 The Conqueft of MEXICO, Moteziima was greatly alarmed at Cortes's fuccels againft the Tlafcalans, apprehending that (hoiild they unite their forces, they might be able to overturn his whole empire* Yet inllead of aflembling an army in his own defence, he fent another prefent to Cortes, by ambafladors who were ordered to divert him from his intended journey, to watch over his adlions, and if poflible to prevent a reconciliation between him and the Tlafcalans. Five Mexicans of the firft rank, who were charged with this embafly, arrived in the Spa- ni(h quarters, foon after the minifters of the republic had departed, and were favourably received by Cortes, who accepted of the prefent ; but would not difpatch them immediately, as he was defirous of having them fee the Tlafcalans humbled : and indeed they had no inclination to depart, till they had accomplifhed the real defign of their embafly. In the mean time the republic caufed the neigh- bouring villages to furnifti the Spanifli army with provifions gratis ', and in two days Cortes was vifited by Xicotencal at the head of 50 noblemen of his party, who attended him with the enfigns of peace. He was well made, above the middle ftature, and had a countenance that commanded refpeil. He wore a white mantle adorned with jewels, and behaved be- fore Cortes with the free air of a foldier. Cortes com- plained, in the hearing of the Mexican ambafladors, with fonie vehemence, of the unjuft war they had carried on, but granted peace, and promifed that no violence fliould be committed by the foldiers. At Xicotencal's departure lie gave him his hand, and told him that he would return the vifit after he had dif- patciied MotcLaima's ambafladors. The Mexicans n.ade a jeft of the peace, and pre- tended that vhe Tlui'calans only fought to lull him into fecurity, in order with the greater eafc to defl:roy hini and his foldiers. Buu iinuing that he was fixed in his refolution to grant them a peace, they defired him to delay tcefs \hey his by HERNANDO CORTES. 24? delay his march to Tlafcala for fix days, promifing to fend two of their number to Mexico, while the reft would ftay to exped his refolution : and as Cortes did not think proper to break with Motezuma, he con- fented to this requeft. Within the appointed time the ambaffadors re- turned, accompanied by fix perfons of high rank, with a fplendid retinue, bearing another prefent of greater value than the former-, declaring that Mote- zuma defired to be the friend and confederate of the great fovereign of the Spaniards, and would pay hirn an annual tribute, provided they would enter into no league with the Tlafcalans, and lay afide their defign of coming to Mexico. But Cortes being refolved that thefe ambafladors fliould be witnefs of the peace with Tlafcala, poft- poned his anfwer, refolving to detain them as long as he could, to give Motezuma the lefs time to prepare for hoftilities. Thefe embaflles fo greatly alarmed the Tlafcalans, that the government came to a refolution to vifit Cortes in the form of a fenate, in order to con- vince him of their fincerity, and break off his nego- ciation with the Mexicans. They accordingly ar- rived in folemn procellion, carried upon the ftiouUlers of inferior officers, and followed by numerous atten- dants. Cortes received them with his ufual ftate and civility •, and after they were feated, was addrefied by the father of Xicotencal, a blind old man of a ve- nerable afpe£t, who told him, that the fenate of Tlaf- cala were come to fue for peace on his own terms •, to diflfuade him from entering into a league with the tyrant Motezuma; and intreated him to honour their city with his prefence. Cortes afifured him that he would march to Tlafcala, whenever the people of the neighbouring villages were ready to conduft his bag- gage and artillery. The ne^t morning 500 tamines, or carriers, appeared at his quarters, and having made the proper difpofitions, he immecjiately be^an his march. t ' * ^ Jl 3 The f ^rf^ .* * 246 The Conqucft of M E X I C O, : The Spaniards were received by the fenators and nobles, at a confidcrable diftance from the town, who, having paid their rerpedls to the general, turned about and marched before. Ti»ecity refounded with fhouts, acclamations, and the difagrecable noife of their horns, pipes, and drums. As Cortes knew the warlike character of the people among whom he lived, he oblcrved the utmoll cir- cumfpedlion ; which greatly mortified the 'I'lafcalans •, and Magifcatzin being fent by the fenate to complain of it to Cortes, he afllired him, that he was well con- vinced of the fincerity and good-will of the republic, and that his ibldiers appearine; in arms, was one of the cfFcdls of that difcipline which had rendered the Spa- niards invincible. Widi this reply the fenatc were fatisfied, and the Spaniards received daily proofs of the fidelity and friendfhip of their new allies. Cortes*s zeal made him rcfolve to deftroy all their idols •, but • it foon was moderated by the charity of father dc 01- medo, who told him that perfecution but ill agreed with the dodrines of the gofpel, and that their con- verfion required time and gentle ufage. However he prevailed with the Tlafcalans to defift from human facrifices, and to fet at liberty thofe milerable wretches who were fed in cages, in order to be the victims of their inhuman worfhip. - ' • • r . • -. , Peace being cftablilhed, and the fenate of Tlafcala having fworn allegiance to the king of Spain, Cortes difmifled the Mexican ambaffadors, whom he defired to inform Motezuma of what had pafTed in their prc- fence. While Cortes dill continued at Tlafcala, receiving homage in the name of Charles V. from the different towns and confederates of the republic, the inhabi- tants were alarmed by a furprizing irruption of fire from the Volcano of Popocatepec, . an high mountain at eight leagues diftance from the city, which filled the people with terror and confternation •, for they ri- diculoufly imagined ii to be a prefage of future mis- fortunes, fortu the fc to ch W md [ho, jouc jits, rns, [pie ir- is of by HERNANDO CORTES. 247 fortunes, apd fuppofcd that the fparks of fire were the fouls of tyrants fent abroad by the uBcndcd deities ]LQ chaftife the earth. While Magifcatzin and fome of the priiiwipal poblc- nien were rchcarfing thefe idle fancies to Cortes, Diego dc Ordaz came to alk leave to afccnd the mountain, in order to gratify his curioficy. I'he In- dians, aitoniihed at his propofal, endeavoured to pcr- fuade him from engaging in fuch a dangerous enter- prife, and obferved, that the boldeft men of their na- tion had never ventured beyond fome hermitages of their gods, about the middle of the ernmencc, and that dreadful roarings and tremblings forbad all ap- proach to its fummit. This account increafed the eagernefs of Diego de Ordaz, and Cortes granted his rcqueft, in order to afford the Tlafcalans a frelh proof of the fuperior courage of the Spaniards. Ordaz therefore fet out on this expedition attended by two foldiers, and fome of the principal Indians, who offered to attend him as far as the hermitages. He found the bottom of the mountain beautified on all fides with green trees, which extended a confider* able way up the afcenr. The earth then grew barren by decrees. The Indians (lopped at their hermitages, to which they never expedted to fee the Spaniards re- turn *, and Diego de Ordaz, with his companions, pro- ceeded, climbing among the rocks, which were whitened by fnow and the afhes difcharged from the Volcano*, and at length reached a place at a fmall dif- tance from the fummit, where they felt the earth move violently untler them, and heard a dreadful roaring iflue from ""he mouth of the Volcano, which with redoubled noife difcharged a valt quantity of fire and fmoke, that darted upward to a great height. The Spaniards were inftantly covered with a Diower of hot afhes, which obliged them to feek for fhelter in the hollow of a rock, where they were almoil ftifled. Diego de Ordaz, however, perceiving that the earth- (juake was pafTcd, encouraged the foldiers, by his "":::;;; R 4 example 248 The Conqueft of MEXICO, example, to profecute this difcovery, till they came within fight of the mouth of the volcano, which was about a quarter of a league in circumference ; they obfcrved at the bottom a large quantity of inflammable matter, which boiled up like fome Ihining metal in fufion. With this account they returned I'afe, to the aftonilhment of the Indians, whofe eftecm for the Spaniards was increafed by this adventure, which afterward proved of fignal fervice ; for Ordaz found a large quantity of fulphur in the mountain, of which Cortes made gunpowder, when it was much wanted by the army. ^ Cortes having continued twenty days at Tlafcala, during which he was entertained with all poffible marks of refpcft, declared his refolution of proceeding for Cholula, in which he was oppofed by the Tlaf- calans ; who endeavoured to ftrengthen fome argu- ments that had been before urged by the Zempo- allans, by declaring tliat Cholula was a facred place, in which were 400 temples, and fuch malevolent gods, that they terrified the world with prodigies : that he ought not, therefore, to enter their territories, without an aflurance of their being propitious. Juff about this time new ambafTadois arrived from Mote- zuma, bringing another pr^fent, and that prince's permilTion for the Spaniards to pr'^ceed by the way of Cholula, where he had provided quarters for the reception of the army. The Tlafcalans immediately concluded, that there was treachery in the cafe, and iVIagifcatzin repeated his remonftrances with fuch marks of concern, that Cortes called a council in his prefence, in which it was agreed, that it was impof- iible to avoid the road propofed by the emperor of Mexico, without difcovering a fufpicion of his fin- cerity : that whether this iufpicion was well or ill founded, it would not be proper to difclofe it, and that it would be equally dangerous to leave enemies behind them. Cortes on the day of his departure, drew up the Spaniards and the Zempoallan auxi- "■■ ' ' • • liarie?. Jiari< force difti( diffe only! begs five ing whic therj by HERNANDO CORTES. 249 {iaries, and was mi|ch furprifed to find the whole force of the republic and her allies ready in the field, diftinguiftied by the colour of their feathers, and their different enfigns : but Cortes infilled upon taking only 6000 or the republic's troops, with which he began his march to Cholula. That city was about five leagues diftant from Tlalcala, and the fame even- ing he halted near a river, within ^ miles of the place, which he was unwilling to enter by night. He was there vifited by deputies from the city of diftinguifhed rank, who brought a prefent of provifions, and ex- cufing themfelves for not waiting upon him at Tlaf- cala, on account of his being there in the midft of their enemies ; welcomed him and his people to their city. Though Cortes was far from being convinced of their fincerity, he admitted of their excufe, and the next morning proceeded toward Ch.)lula, where he was met by the caciques and prieftis utended by a multitude of unarmed people, who had the appear- ance of being filled with reverence and joy : but they no fooner perceived the body of Tlalcalans that marched in the rear, than a difagreeable murmur was heard among the chiefs ; upon v/hich Marina was or- dered to a(k the reafon of it, when Ihe returned with an anfwer, that the Tlafcalans being their enemies, could not enter the city in arms, • wherefore they ear- neftly intreated, that he would order them to return. Cortes was difconcerted at this demand, he however defired the Tlafcalans to lie without the city, to which they agreed ; and they took up their lodgings in a place from which they might '^afily come to the afTift- ance of the Spaniards, in cafe of neceflicy. In (hort, Cortes entered Cholula amidfl: the acclamations of the people, and with all the marks of refpe^t Ihewn to the Spaniards at their entrance into Tlafcala. The city of Cholula ftood in an open and delightful plain, and was much frequented by ftrangers, on ac- count of its being a fanduary of the gods, and its carrying on a confiderable trade. The ftreets were 3 fpacious, 250 The Gonqiieft of M E X I C O, • • fparious, the buildings larger ^nd more beautiful than thofe of Tlafcala. The quarters ap|)ointed for the Spaniards were three or four large edifices, con- tiguous to each other, and fufficiept to contain both the Spaniards and the Zempoallsyis. The Tlafcalans chofe a place at a fmall diltance from the town, which they fecured with fome works, formed guards, and placed centinels, in imitatation of their European friends j from whom they had obtained fome know- ledge in the art of war. . : ^ --■i . In the firft three or four days, there was the great- efl: appearance of tranquillity and friendfliip, but after that time provifions grew .gradually fcarce, and an entire flop was put to the entertainments of the caciques. 1 he priefts and Motezuma*s ambafladors held private conferences, and the people began to look upon the Spaniards with an air of fcorn and diftafte. This naturally awakened the jealoufy of the latter, and Cortes was endeavouring to penetrate into the intentions of the Cholulans, when the whole defign was accidentally difcovered. Marina had contradled a friendfhip with an old Indian woman of diftindion j who coming one morning to her apartment, begged, wirh great earneftnefs, that fhe would immediately forfake thofe abominable ftran- gers, and live with her. Marina perceiving that there was fomething extraordinary in this requed, bemoaned her captivity, and acted he: part To well, that the Cholulan believing her fincere, told her, that there was no time to be loft, for the Spaniards were devoted to deftru6lion : that Motezuma had fent 20,000 Mexicans to lecure the fuccefs of the defign, of which 6000 chofen men had already en- tered the city in fmall parties ; that a great quantity of arms was diftributed among the inhabitants, who had carried ftones up to the tops of their houfts, and cut deep trenches acrofs the ftrects, in which were fixed fliarp ftakes, which were Oightly covered over with earth, far the deftruCtion of the horics : ..7 that by HERNANDO CORTES. 251 that the emperor of Mexico had refolved to exter- minate all the Chriftians •, but had given orders that ibtne of them fhould be taken alive, to fatisfy his CLiriofuy and zeal for religion •, and that he had made the city of Cholula a prefent of a golden drum to ex- cite tiieir courage. Marina, on obtaining this in- telligence, pretended that fhe was ready to attend her deliverer, and would only go and fetch her jewels ; but immediately hafted to Cortes, and told him the whole affair •, upon which the Indian woman was feizcd, and by threats engaged to make a particular conft'llion of the whole : and, in (hort, he obtained intelligence from fcveral other perlbns, which put the affair beyond all doubt, Cortes ordering his captains to affemble, laid be- fore them the whole confpiracy, and propoft^d a fcheme for punifhing the Choluhns, to which they unanimoufly conlentcd. Agreeably to this plan, he let the niagiftrates know that he fhould depart the next day ; and demanded provifions for his march. The Tlafcalans were then ordered to draw near the city at day-break, and to enter the town and join the Spaniards and Zen-«poailans at the firll difcharge of the fire-aniis. At night, having fecured the quarters with guards and centinels, he ient for Mo- tezuma's ambaffadors, and told them that he had difcovcrcd a confpiracy formed againft him by the caciques and citizens of Cholula, vvliom he was re- folved to punifti : and that he v;as nor fo much pro- voked at their treaclierous intentions toward him, as at their prcfuming to lay their crime to the charge of the emperor. Early in the morning came the carriers with fome provifions, though in a fmall qu:"inti:y, and after- wards a greater number of armed Indian?> tiian Cor- tes had demanded. 'I'hefc he fecurcil in feveral parts of ids quarters, on pretence of forming his bat- talions. Then putting his men in order, and mount- ing his horfe, he ient for the caciques, and wh.en they 11 252 The Conqueft of MEXICO,' they appeared, told them in a loud an4 angry voice. That as he had difcovered their confpiracy, he would fo feverely punilh them, that they fliould repent of their treachery. Scarce had he begun to fpeak, when they halted away with great expedition to join their own forces, infulting him with threats and abufe, which they uttered as they fled. Cortes then commanded his infantry to fall upon the foldiers, whom he had kept divided in the fquares of his quarters, all of whom were foon deftroyed, except a few who threw themfelves from the walls and efcap- ed. In this fcene of confufion above fix thoufand of the natives and Mexicans were flain. The Tlaf- calans having pillaged the town, Cortes afllgned them lodgings without the city, and then retired to his own quarters ; where ordering the principal perfons of the town, who had been taken prifoners, toge- ther with the priefts and Indian woman, whom he had kept confined, to be brought before him, he exprtfled his concern at their having obliged him to infiidt fo fevere a punifhment upon the city, publifh- ed a general pardon, and defired the caciques to call back the fugitives. The ambafladors congratu- lated Cortes on his fuccefs ; and the citizens being encouraged by his ofl^ers of peace, returned to their houles, and opened their (hops : fo that the tumult immediately fubfided.v About this time ambafiadors arrived from the emperor of Mexico, who had been informed of all that had pafled at Cholula ; and being willing to efcape the fufpicion of having had any concern in the affair, not only thanked Cortes for chaftizing thofe traitors, but fent him a prefent of great value : by which means he thought to lead the Spaniards into a blind fecurity, that they might the eafier fall into a I'narc he had prepared for them. Cortes having ftaid fourteen days at Cholula, pro- ceeded tov/ard Mexico -, and the firft night he lodged in a villaf^c, to -vvhich the chiefs of the ncighbour- incr by HERNANDO CORTES. 253 ing towns repaired with prefents. From them Cor- tes heard the fame complaints of Motezuma as in the more diftant provinces ; and was informed that the Mexicans had placed a confiderable ambufcade on the other fide of a mountain he was to pafs the next day : that they had flopped up the high road, and opened another which ended in precipices^ and that the Spanifli army when perplexed with difficul- ties, was to be fuddenly charged, where their horfes could be of no fervice, and the foot have no room to form. Cortes, though highly incenfed at this piece of treachery, ftifled his refentment, and the next day profecuted his march over a very craggy mountain, adjoining to the volcano, proceeding with great caution. When he had reached the top, he perceived the two roads which had been defcribed to him s and turning with great compofure to the Mexican ambafladors, he afked the reafon why one of them was blocked up with trees and ftones, and the other but newly made ? To which they anfwered, that the new road was levelled for his convenience ; and the other flopped up, on account of its being more fleep and difficult. Cortes reply'd, " You are " but little acquainted with the genius of our na- " tion ; for we will march in this road for no other " reafon than its difficulty." He then dcfired his Indian friends to mTch before, and remove the ob- flacles to his pafTage ; which to the an-^azement of the ambafladors was foon done, for they never dreamt that he fiifpedled their defign. The In- dians in ambufcade, obferving that the Spaniards marched in the royal road, concluded that they were difcovered, and began to retire in great diforder i while Cortes defcended, without oppcfition, into the plain, and pafled the night in fome houfes built for the re- ception of the M("xican merchants, Vv'ho reforted to the fairs of Choiula. In the mean time Motezuma being difpirited by thefe difappointments, grew dally more and more devout ; 254 The Conqueft of MEXICO, • devout i rcforted to the temples ; incrcafcd the num- ber of human facrifices ; and at length aflembling his magicians, ordered them upon pain of death to fet out to meet the Spaniards, and either to ftupify or overcome them by the force of their enchant- ments. In compliance with this command, a con- fiderable number of necromancers fet out •, but hav- ing performed their incantations without fuccefs, they returned to Motezuma, and told him, that the s^od Telcatlepuca, from whom famine and plagues pro- ceeded, had appeared to them in a garment girt with a robe of wicker, declaring: that Motezuma's ruin was decreed, and the diflTolution of the empire at hand. The fuperflitious king was llruck dumb with this report; till at length recovering his fpeech, he cried, " If our gods forlake us, let the ftran- *' gers come. It would be di [honourable to turn *' our backs upon misfortunes ;" and then after a ihort paufe, added, " I lament the old men, wo- " men and children, who cannot defend them- " felves.'* From this moment he began to pre- pare for the entertainment of the Spaniards. All the difcourfe of Mexico turned upon their aftonilh- ing actions, and the prodigies by which their com- ing had been foretold ; and thefe topics of conver- faiion produced a prcpofTeirion which only could enable fuch an handful of men to penetrate to the very court of lucli a powerful prince. Cortes purfued Ivis march through a delightful coun- try, adorned with groves and beautiful gardens, till he arrived at a village built on ? creek of the great lake, where he choie to take up his lodging, Thi- ther the Mexicans rcfortei with their arms ..nd mi- litary ornaments, in fuch numbers as raifed Cortcs*s fufpicions : when in order to keep them at a proper diftance he caufcd fome fire-arms and pieces of ar- tillery to be iiied lii the air, at which they were To terrified, that they haflily retired. However he was vifited in the morning by one of Motezuma's ne- phews, give by HERNANDO CORTES. 255 phcws, who was lord of Tezeuco ; he was a young man, had an agreeable perfon, and was carried on the Ihouldcrs of fotnc of his fervants, in a chair adorned with a variety of feathers curioufly diverli- tied. He no fooner alighted, than his fervants went before to fweep the ground, and keep back the people on each fide. Cortes going to the door of his apartment, received him with a low bow, which the prince returned by touching the earth, and then his lips with his right hand •, which falutation being paffed, he fat down, and with an eafy air welcomed him and all his captains : fpoke of Motezuma*s ami- cable difpofition, and mentioned tlie difficulties that oppofed his going to Mexico, on account of that year's barrennefs, by which the people were much diftrefled, fo that ftrangcrs could be but ill accom- modated where the natives wanted neceflaries. The emperor's nephew received a prefcnt of feme falfe jewels, at which he ihewed great figns of joy -, and having accompanied the army as far as Tezeuco, the capital of his dominions, he proceeded to Mexico, to give an account of his embaily. The city of Tezeuco was one of the largeft in the empire, and in grandeur was but little inferior to Mexico itfelf. It extended along the banks of a i'pacious lake, at the beginning of the Mexican caufeway. The houles werj very beautiful, and the ftreets regular ; and what was ftill more extraordinary, frefh water was brought in pipes to every houfe. Cortes purfued his march over the caufeway, which was twenty feet broad, and compofed of ftone ; and in the mlciv/ay came to another town of about 2000 houfes, called Quitlavaca, which was founded in the water, whence it afterward obtained the name of Venezuela, or Little Venice. Here the cacique, attended by a fplendid retinue, came out to meet him, and prcfieJ hlrA to honour his ciry by Ipend- ing the night there. To which he thought proper to confen: ; for he began to lulped that the Mexi- cans 256 The Cohqucft 6f MEXICO, cf « cans might break the caufcwayj or obftruft his mafcfi by taking away the bridges. From this place the Spaniards had a view of the grcateft part of the lake, "which was beautified with towns^ adorned with towers and pinnacles, gardens and caufeways, that feemed to float upon the water; The batdements of the houfcs were filled with people ; multitudes of Indians approached in their canoes to behold the Spaniards : and the whole formed a profped: that was at once new and extremely noble. In this city, they were entertained with a politenefs that fhewed its neighbourhood to the court. About break of day the next morning, the Spa- niards formed themfelves upon the caufeway, which was there wide enough to allow eight horfes to march in front ; and the whole army, which confided of 450 Spaniards and 6000 Indian allies, proceeded on their march to Iztapalapa ; a city built in a mod de- lightful, and commodious fituation, part of it upon the lake, and the other part on the (hore. It con- fided of 10,000 houfes of two or three dories high. Xhe lord of this city, accompanied by the princes of two other towns bordering upon the lake, came out to meet Cortes with three feparate prefents of goldi fowls, fruir, and other provifions. The Spa- niards entered the city amidd the loud acclamations of the people j lodgings were prepared for them in the priiKc's own palace, which was a large and well buiit edifice, with many apartments both above and below dairs, among which were feveral chambers •with flat roofs of cedar, furniihed with cotton hang- ings, curioufly painted. Here were many conduits of excellent water, conveyed by aquediifts from the neighbouring mountains, and a confiderable number of large and well cultivated gardens, particularly one that was far more beautiful and fpacious than the jeft, and belonged to the cacique. In the morning the Spaniards left the city Iztapa- lapa, and beginning tlieir march in their accudomed order. I !ll:i|1 ^iii«»\*._ »i^y 5^, ^i^ > ik v. V -v ^ N^' 1 i':i 'i/'iiil X^fi!^ i J X f v;i^g*»«-^ ■*»*^3 '--^5S^~ L;;?-i il^ •■-s'. .-!''> ■•V/'.. '^■>.j^,fy. by HERNANDO CORTES. 25^ brder, foon difcovcred the great city of Mexico, dillingiiiilu'd above the r ^Y by the height of its towers, anrl the grandeur and multiplicity of its build- ings. On their having marched about half way, they were met by a body of about 4000 nobles and ofH- ters oi' the city, who came out to meet them •, and who having paid their obedience, turned about and ad- vanced before the troops. At a fmall dillance from Mexico, the caufeway was crofTed by a bulwark of ftone, where the entrance into the city was fecured by gates, a draw-bridge, and a fecond fortification. The nobles liad no fooner pafled on the other fide of the bridge, than they fell back on each fide, and made a lane for the army to pafs through, when there appeared a fpacious ftreet, the houfes of which were uniformly built, and the windows and battlements filled with fpcdators ; though, no body was feen paf- fin^ through the fi:reets : for Motezuma had given orders for their being cleared, as he had himfelt re- folvcd to fliew Cortes an extraordinary mark of fa- vour by his coming but to meet him. Scarce had the Spaniards entered the city, when they perceived the firft: troop of the royal retinue, which confided of 200 noblemen of Motezuma*s houlhold, uniformly adorned with feathers, who ap- proached in two files with their eyes fixed on the ground *, but on their approaching the Spaniards, fell back on each fide. Then appeared at a confiderable difiance a larger company more richly adorned, in the midft: of whom was Motezuma in a chariot of burr- niftied gold, furrounded with beautiful feathers, and carried on the flioulders of his favourites ; while four perfons of diftindlion held over his head a canopy of green feathers, interwoven with ornaments of filver. He was preceded by thrde officers with golden rods^ which they from time to time lifted up as a fignal of rlie emperor's approach, that all might prollrate them- felves, and hide their heads. Cortes difmounted at d fmall diftance, and Motezuma at the fame time Vol. I. i> alighted IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .** ^ u 11.25 iai2.e US u IM 1.4 2.0 I m 1.6 Photographic ^Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M5«0 (716)S72-4S03 4^ ' ^^^ v^^ J /u 258 The Conqueft of MEXICO, alighted from his chariot, when fome of 'the Indians advanced before and fpread carpets, that his feet might not touch the ground. He came forward with a flow and folemn pace, leaning upon his coufins, the princes of Tezeuco and Iztapalapa. He was about forty years of age, of a middle ftature, and had a good prefence; but his conftitution feemed rather delicate than robuft. He had an aquiline noie, and a fairer complexion than the reft ox the Mexicans : his eyes were lively, and his hair reached a litde be- low his ears •, but his lo6k, though thoughtful, was majeftic. He wore on his head a kind of golden mitre ; a mantle of fine cotton covered with gold, pearls, and precious ftones, was carelefsly tied on his flioulders ; and his fhoes, which refembled the fandals of the Romans, confifted of a gold fole, bound to his foot, with dudded flraps that came round a part of his leg. Cortes, on feeing him, haftily advanced, and made a profound reverence, which Motezuma returned in the manner of his country, by touching the ground with his hand and kifllng it : at wliich the Mexicans were greatly aftoniflied, fiqce they had never feen any of their emperors give fuch an inftance of con- defcenfion, Cortes wore about his neck a chain of glafs, curioufly fet in imitation of diamonds and eme- ralds, which he had referved as a prefent for his firft audience ; and coming up clofe to the emperor, he threw it about his neck. The princes who Supported him, fliewed fome emotion, and interpofed to pre- vent Cortes, fignifying that it was unlawful to ap- proach fo near : but they were reprimanded by Mote- zuma, who bowed his head to ftiew that he accepted the prefent ; and which he returned, by putting upon . Cortes*s neck a rich ornament of crimfon Ihells, join- ed together with great art, at each of which hung four crabs of gold of excellent workmanihip. Cor- tes then made a ihort fpeech ; which being unfwered by Motezuma, he ordered one of the fuppprisers to conduA by HERNANDO CORf Is* a^9 condufl: the (Iranger to his lodging, and then lean- ing on the other, went to his chair and returned to the palace. In this manner Cortes entered the city of Mexico on the 8th of November, 15 9* One of the royal palaces was provided for the Spaniards. It was built by Motezuma's father, and was large enough to lodge the whole army. It had very thick ftone walls -, was flanked with towers, and many of the chambers were furnifhed with cotton hangings, and feather^ work of various colours. The chairs were formed out of folid pieces of wood, and the bedfteads had curtains like pavilions -, the beds themfelves were of palm-mats, and the bolfters of the fame, rolled up. Cortes entered thefe lodgings a little after twelve at noon ; and had no fooner diftributed his guards and placed his artillery before the gate, than he found a fplendid banquet prepared for himfelf and his offi- cers, and great plenty of provifions drefled for the Ibldiers, with many Mexicans who immediately waited upon them in the moft profound fdence. J In the evening Cortes was vifited by Motezuma, who came in the fame ftate as before. Cortes went to the principal fquare to meet him -, and after mak- ing a profound reverence, entered the apartment with Motczuma, who took his' feat with an air of maje- fty, and ordered a chair to be brought for Cortes : when the company retiring to fome diftance, he is faid to have addrefled himfelf to him to the follow- ing purpofe : " Before you mention the particulars *' of your embafly, illuftrious captain, let you and I *' lay afide the prejudices we have each imbibed of *' the other, from the mifreprefentations of common *' report. You have been in fome places told that i *' am a god ; that my power is invincible, and my " riches immenfe ; that my pdaces are covered with *' gold, and that the earth groans beneath the weight *' of my treafure. Upon other occafions, you have heard that I am a tyrant, infolent, cruel, ^nd un- ' .^.,,, S 2 . " jyfti «c \ 1 6q the Conqiieft of M E X. ? C O, ; • juft i but you have been impofed upon by both reprcfentations : this arm of flefh and blood fhews that I am mortal, and thefe walls and roofs dc- monftrate that my palaces are not covered with gold -, and from thefe inilances, you may conclude that the account of my vices is alfo exaggerated, by the malice of n.y enemifs. We have alfo re- ceived various accounts of you •, fome have affirmed that you arc gods who gral'p the thunder, com- mand the elements, and compel the beafts of the foreft to obey your directions. Yqu have been re- prefcnted by others as proud, vindictive, volup- tuous, and tranfported with an infatiable thirft after the gold which our country produces. Yet I now fee that I have been alike decfived by thefe different accounts. You are made like other men j and only dittinguiflied from us, by the particulari- ties of your own country. The beads that fo readily obey you, are large deer trained up to difcipline* Your arms that produced lightning, I conceive to be barrels of metal, and their effedt like that of our farbacans, proceeds from air comprefled and flriving for vent -, and as to fire, noife and fmoke, they furely are owing to enchantment. In a word, we believe that the great prince, to wliom you pay- obedience, is a defcendant of Quczalcoal, lord of the ieven caves of the Navatlaques, and lawful fovereign of the feven nations that gave rile to the Mexican empire. For from the tradition of many ages, we know that he left thefe countries to con- quer new regions in the eaft, with a promife, that in procefs of time, hisdefcendants lliould return to new- model our laws, and reform our government. We have therefore already determined, that every thing fliall 'be done for the honour of a prince who is the offspring of fuch an illuftrious progenitor." To tills fpeech Cortes replied to the following pur- pofc : " We have, it is true. Sir, heard very oppo- fice accounts of your character, which ioiiie have .5" " extolled. C( (( S3 ^d .(( (( C( cc (C cc 2 62 The Gonqncft of M E X I C O, ed fotne jewels among the Spaniards who were pre- i'cnt • • — ■ '■* The next day Cortes demanded an audience, which was immediately granted i he therefore drefled him- felf in his gayeft apparel, without quitting his arms, and fet out for the palace with Juan Velafquez de Leon, Diego de Urdaz, Vedro de Alverado, and fix Or feven favourite foldiers. The ftreets were crowd- ed with vaft multitudes of people, who made way to let them pafs, often pronouncing amidft their accla- mations the word Tcule, or God ; with which the Spa- niards were pleafed, from the opinion that this ex- traordinary veneration would contribute to their fuc- cefs. At fone diftance appeared Motezuma*s pa- lace-, a prodigious pile of building which had thirty gares that opened to as many different ftreets. The principal front took up one fide of a fpacious fquare, and was of red, white, and black jafper, beautifully poliftied ; and in a large Ihield over the gate, was re* prefented Motezuma's arms, a grii?n with i|s wings extended, holding a tyger in its talons. When the Spaniards approached this entrance^ the Mexicans who accompanied Cortes, walked up- to one fide of it ; then retiring, formed a femicircle, that they might enter two a-breail : for it was efteemed irreverent to enter the royal palace in a crowd. After their hav^ ing pafied three, fquares, they reached Motezuma's apartments, which they admired for their krgenefs and furniture The walls were covered with cotton hangings, interwoven with furs j and the innermoft rooms were adorned with a very beautiful kind of tapellry, compofed of feathers. The floors were co- vered with mats, and the roofs wereof cyprcfs, ce- dar, and other kinds of odoriferous woods," adorn- ed with foliages and relievos ; and though the ufe of nails was unknown to the Mexicans, the ciel- ings were fo contrived, that the planks fupported each other. In thefe fpacious rooms wKre officers who c ' . guarded by HERNANDO CORTES. 263 guarded the entrance, and at the door of the anti- - chamber, were the nobility and magiftrates, who re- ceived Cortes with much civility *, but detained him till they had taken off their fandals and rich mantles, and put on others, that made a lefs fplendid appear- ance : for they thought it prefumptuous to appear in > their richeft apparel before the emperor. Motezuma, who was ftanding with all his enfigns of royalty about r him, advanced iome fteps to meet Cortes i who com- ing forward with a low bow, the emperor laid his hand's upon his fhoulders, gave the reft of the Spa- - niards a fmile, and then feating himfelf, defired them - to fit, and entered* into converfation with great free- dom i allied feveral queftions, relating to the man- ners and politics of the eaftern countries, and made^ very judicious remarks upon the anfwers of Cortes, He then mentioned, how much the Mexicans were ., obliged to the defendants of their firft king ; and? feemed to rejoice in having the prophecy fulfilled in , his reign. Cortes turned the difeourfe upon religion* and particularly exclaimed againft human facrifices : with fuch warmth, that Motezuma from that day ,. banilhed difhes cf human fiefh from his table; though he maintained, that there was no cruelty in offering to the gods the prifoners of war, who were already condemned to death. ... ' j . > Some days after this interview, Motezuma, who was ftill very fond of his own religion, conducted Cortes and fome of his principal officers, with fa- ther Bartholomew, to the chief temple, in order to let them fee its magnificence •, but before they were admitted, he cautioned them to behave with decency. The gates of this fpacious edifice being opened, he himfelf explained the particulars of their worfhip with fuch folemnity, as excited the laughter of the Spaniards, whofe rudcnefs upon this ocrafion is not excufable. Cortes being here tranfported by a ridiculous and unreafonable zeal, cried to Mote-- zuma? '* Allow me. Sir, to fix the crofs of Chrift S 4 ^« belbrc 264 ' The Conqqcft of MEXICO, " before thefe images of the devil, and you will fee *« whether they deferve adoration or contempt." Both Motezuma and the pricfts were enraged at this pro- pofal : the former defired them to wjthdraw, and following l\\m to the threlhold, added, *' You may *' return to your houfe, my friends ; but I (hall (lay •• to aflc pardon of my gods, for having fuffercd *< you to proceed fo far." Yet notwithftanding his zeal for his religion, he was fo far from thinking of tyran^ nizing over the confciences of the Spaniards, that he ordered workmen to be fent to aflift them in fitting up a chapel ; in which both he and his chiefs >yere frequently prefent when mafs was performed. It may here be proper to give a mqre particular defcription of the city of Mexico, which was divided into two parts : one, where the meaner fort refided, was called Tlatelulco -, while the other, appropri- ated to the court and the nobility, had the name of Mexico i which from thence was given to the whole city, that contained 60,000 families. This capital flood in a fpacious plain, encompafled by high rocks and mountains ; from which many rivulets falling down into the valley, formed feveral lakes : among which there were two that extended about 30 leagues in circumference, and were furrounded by fifty towns. Thefe lakes had a communication with each other through openings left in a ftone wall, by which they were divided ; and over thefe openings were wooden bridges, with fluices on each fide, by ^jiich the lower lake was fupplied from the other. The wa- ter of the uppermoft was frefh, while that of the lower was fait,; which folely proceeded from the na- ture of the foil. The city of Mexico ilood in the middle of the fait lake, in 19"*. 13'. north latitude, yet it enjoyed a mild and healthy climate. It >yas joined to the main-land by three noble caufeways. The llreets were ftraight and large, and had a great number of canals for the convenience of water-car- riage, in barks and canoes of different fizes j above ■ - ' ' 50,006 will Cue " Sot'* lis pro- w, and ?u may- all (lay uffere^ lis zeal tyrarir :hat he fitting 's were ticul^r - ivided ' •fided,; ropri-- me of whole apital rocks ailing Tiong Jgues )wns. other they oden the : wa- ■ the ; na- the : ude, was ^ays. ;reat car- lo ve 006 ^1 v^ f> I I by HERNANDO CORTES. ^65 50,000 of which belonged to the city. All the pu- blic edifices and houfes of the nobility were built of ilone } and though the dwellings of the common people "were meaner, and more irregular, they, as well as the others, were laid out in fuch a manner, as to form feveral courts, in v^ich th^ir merchandize was exppfed to fale. Their temples, as has been already obferved, were ipacious and tnagnificent, particularly that dedicated to Vitzliputzli, their god of war, their fuprcme deity. A wall qf hpwp ftone, on which were cut wreaths of ferpents, furrounded a large fquare -, and thoujgh the hou(es of t(ie pricfts an4 their fprvants were erefted round the infide of this wall, there was left room fufficicnt for loyooo perfons to (Janpe upon their fo- lemn feftivals. On each fide of the wall was a gate, over which were four ftatues of ilone, reprcfcnting fome inferior deities ; to whom the people paid re- verence as they entered. At a fmall diftance from the principal gate, was a place of worlhip, flat on the top i the four fides of wnich were encompafled by trunks of. trees, with holes bored in them at equal (jiftai^ces, through which paffed feveral bars run tjirough the heads of men who had been facrificed. In the centre of the fquare flood a lofty ftone tower, with a ftair-cafe that confifted of 120 fteps, by which the people afcendcd to the top, where was a, flat pavement 40 feet fquare, beautifully payed with jafper, and furrounded with a balluftrade of a fer-. pentine form. At the top of the flairs flood two. rnarble ftatues, well executed, fupporting two large candlefticks of an extraordinary make. A little far-: ther was a green ftone, raifed about three feet from, the pavement, on which the priefts extended the mi- ferable vidim, while they opened his . breafl and plucked out his heart. Beyond this fl^ne fttx)d sl chapel of excellent workmanftiip, which fronted the l^air-cafe ; and here the idol was placed upon a high altar, furrounded with curtains. This idol was in ■ *■■■•''■ ■ • •■-■-■■• ^'-— ■ - - ■ ■ -, • the I, 266 The Conqucft of M E X I C O, the form of a man fitting in a chair, fliftaincd by a blue globe, furnilhcd with four rods, which projcft from the fides, each terminating in a fcrpent*s head. By thefe rods, the idol was can ied by the priefts on their fhoulders, when it was expofed to public view : on the head of the god was an helmet, compofed of plumes, in the form of a bird, with a bill and crefl: of burnifhed gold. The countenance of this deity -was horrible. The ornaments were of ineftimablc value. The city of Mexico had eight temples, built nearly in the fame manner -, but thofe of a fmaller fiic^ dedicated to different idols, amounted to 2000. • Moiezuma had, befide the palace in which he kept his court, feveral magnificent pleafure-thoufes ; one of which was a noble btiilding, fupported by pillars of jafper. In this edifice he had an aviary of thofe birds that are moit remarkable on account of their finging and feathers ; and thefe were fo nume- rous, that three hundred men were faid to be em- ployed in attending them. At a fmall: diftance was another very lar»e edifice, where Motezuma:*s fowlers refided, and took care of his birds of prey ; among which were fome bred to the game, like our hawks : artd in the fame place were eagles of an extraordinary fize, and extremely voracious. In the fecond fquare df this laft building were kept the wild beads, as Kons, tigers, biears, and Mexican bulls, which> ar6 remarkably fierce and ftrong •, and over their dens Was a large apartment, where buffoons and moniters T^ere kept for the emperor's diverfion. All thefe fe- veral houfes had l^acrous and well cultivated gardens, in which were a great variety of flowers and medi- cinal herbs fet in fquares. They were alfo adorned with fountains and beautiful fummer houfes. But the moft fingular of all Motezuma's edificesr was hfs houfe of forrow, to which he retired in cafe of any public calamity, or at the death of a favou- rite relation. It was well calculated for promoting gloomy reflections i for the walls^ roofs, and orna^ mentsi by HERNANDO CORTES. 267 mcnts were black, and no other light was admitted, but what proceeded from fome narrow openings in the walls, which were but juft fufficient to dil'covcr the gloomy objedls within. Motczuma had alio feveral pleafant country re- treats, and large forefts for the chafe of wild bcafts, in which he greatly delighted. In thefe fports a num- ber of perlbns furroiinded the game, and contrafted the circle into a certain fpace, where he beheld the combats of his huntlmen with the wild beads, in which the Mexicans were equally dexterous and dar- ing. li "1* ) Motezuma had two forts of guards ; the one of 200 nobles, who were obliged to attend every day at the palace, to guard his perfon. This attendance was divided between two bodies that were upon duty by turns, comprehending the lords of the whole em- pire, who were obliged to come to court from the mod diftant provinces. This was a fcheme which Motezuma himfclf had contrived for keeping the nobility in dependance, and rendering himfelf ac- quainted with their perfons, capacities and difpofi- tions. His other guards were compofed of foldiers, who filled the courts of the palace, and were polled in bodies at the principal gates. Motezuma had two wives, who bore the title of queens, and were the daughters of tributary princes ; thefe were lodged in fcparate apartments, and lived in equal fplendor. His concubines, however, who were feledted from the mod beautiful women tfiroush- out his dominions, exceeded 3000 ; and thefe, whea difmifled, were married by perfons of the firfl qua- lity : for they were generally rich, and thought to be highly honoured by their being admitted to the emperor's embraces. Though he often ate in public, it was always alone. His table was generally furnifhed with above 200 difhes of different meats, fome of which were well feafgn^d. Of thefe he chofe a certain number for 2 his 268 Tiic Conqueft of MEXICO, his own life, and the reft were divided among the nobles and his guards. He fat on a little ftool at a large low table; the cloths and napkins of which were of fine cotton. His dining-room was divided in the middle by a rail, which kept both the crowd and his own* domeftics at a diftance, without ob- ftruding tlie view ; and within the rail he was at- tended by three or four old favourite fervartts. The difhes were brought in by twenty women richly or- namented, who lerved pp the meat, and prefented liim with the cup. The cloths and napkins, as well as all the difhes of fine earthen ware, on their being oive ufed, were diftfibutcd among the fervants. After his meals he took a kind of chocolate, and fmoaked tobacco • perfumed with liquid amber. Indeed the juice of this herb was one of the ingre- dients with which the priefts intoxicated themfclves, •whenpver they wpre obliged to deliver an oracular anfwer. There were generally at the table three or fpur bufibons, who divertecj the emperor with their ludicrous talents ; and at proper intervals he was entertained with mufic, compofecj of pipes and in- ftruments made of fea fhells, accompanied by voices, which formed ap agreeable concert. The fubjeft of thefe fongs was generally the memorable adions of their kings, and the exploits of their anjceftors. They had alfo merry fongs ufed in dancing -, when the voice was accompanied with two little drums, made of hollov/ pieces of wood, of differenjt fize? and founds. Upon other occafions the people aflembled ill the porches and fquares of the temples, made matches running races, and (hooting at a ror wreftling. mark. Here were like wife rope-dancers, who perform- ed with furprifing dexterity, without the afliftance of po-es ; and alfo great numbers of people playing at ball, near the ftatue of an idol brought out by the priefls, as the fuperintendant of that diverfion. In fliorr, the people of Mexico were almofl; d^ily di- vcrtec} fup] largl J • ty HERNAlSfDO C0RT£S. 2^9 verted with fuch fpe6bacles and amufements, as were calculated by Motezuma to entertain them, and prevent their employing their thoughts to his pre- judice. The great revenue which enabled Motezuma to fupport the expence of his court, and to keep two large armies conftantly in the field, arofe from the contributions levied on the fubje«5l, which amounted to one third of the annual produce of that vaft em- pire ; from the falt-works and other taxes, eftablilh- ed from time immemorial, and from the produce of the gold and filver mines. All the towns in the neighbourhood of Mexico provided men for the king's works, and fuel for the palace. The nobility- were obliged to guard the emperor's peribn, to ferve in his armies with a certain number of vaflals, and to make him prefents *, which, though he received as gifts, they durft not negledt. He had different treallires for all the different kinds of contributions; and the tribunal of the crown revenue, having ilfu- ed out what was neceffary for the expence of the palaces, and for war, converted the overplus into ingots of gold. Befide this tribunal, there was a council of juflicc, which received appeals from in- ferior courts -, a council of Hate, and a council of war •, judges of commerce, and other officers. As they had no written laws, but were governed by the cuftoms and inftitutions of their anceltors, their trials were furfimary and verbal ; murder, theft, adultery, and any flight difrefpefb toward the emperor, were punifhed with death ; but all other crimes were eafily pardoned. When an emperor was elefled, he was obliged to obtain fome vi6tofy over his enemies, before he was permitted to afcend the throne: but having thus proved himlelf qualified for the talk of reigning, by his fucccfs, he returned in triumph ; and having made his public entry with great fl:ate and folemnity, all the nobility, min>ilcrs, and priefts, attended him ^i;- , -' .-■ • •' ^. to 2 JO The Conqueft of MEXICO, to the temple of the god of war, where he alighted from his chariot, and having offered the accuftomary facri- fice, was cloathed by the eledors in royal robes ; who alfo put into his right hand, a golden fword, as an en- fign of juftice ; and in his left, a bow and arrows, to fighify his power and command in war. Then the cacique of Tezeuco placed a kind of gold mitre on his head. This ceremony being performed, one of the moft eloquent of the magiftrates made a fpeech, in which he congratulated him on his new dignity •, expatiated on the cares and troubles that attend a throne, and upon the duty of a fovereign. The chief prieft then approaching, tendered him an oath ; by which he bound himfelf to maintain the religion of his anceftors, and the laws and cuftoms of the empire ; to treat his vaflals with lenity t and abfurdly promifed to procure feafonable rains, to pre- vent fterility, inundations, and the malignant influ- ences of the fun and planets. ■ New-born infants were taken with great folemnity to the temples, where the priefts gave them fome admonitions relating to the troubles to which they were born. When the child was the fon of one of the nobles, they put ^a fword into his right hand j and upon his left arm a fhield, kept in the temple for that purpofe. If he was of a plebeian extrac- tion, they put mechanical inftruments in his hands ; but the females of both ranks were prefented with the fpindle and diftafF. After this ceremony was erformed, the infant was taken to the altar, and is privities pricked with a thorn, or cut with a lan- cet of flint, fo as to draw a few drops of blood ; which was no fooner done, than they were fprinkled with water. The children of the plebeians were in- ftrufted in public fchools, and thofe of thit nobility in well endowed colleges, where they pafled through three fucceflive clafles *, in the firft of which they were taught to read the charaders and hieroglyphics, and to repeat the hiftorical fongs : in the fecond, they ' were I » • by HERNANDO CORTES. 271 were inftruded in the rules of civility, modefty, and a polite behaviour : and in the third, they were in- ured to robuft exercifes, as wreflling, managing their arms j the hardlhips of fuffering hunger and thirft, and the inclemencies of the weather. Having ac- quired thefe qualifications, the young noblemen who were defigned for war, were fent as volunteers to the army, in order to accuftom them to dangers and hardfhips -, where they were often placed among the baggage-men, and their fhoulders loaded with pro- vifions, to mortify their vanity, and inure their bo- dies to fatigue. After which they were obliged to give fome proofs of valour, before they could be en- rolled as foldiers. Their marriage ceremony was very fimple: for the contrad being fettled, the parties appeared in the temple ; when the prieft having examined them with relpeft to their mutual paflion, he tied a tip of the woman's veil to the corner of the bride- groom's garment, and accompanied them, joined in this manner, to their habitation, where they went feven times round the fire, and then fitting down to receive an equal (hare of the heat, the marriage was compleated. The hufband then requefled the bride's portion ; but, in cafe of feparation, was after- ward obliged to return it, which was often ef- fected by mutual confent. In that cafe, the boys re- mained with the father, and the girls with the mo- ther i and the marriage being thus difTolved, the parties were forbid to join again on pain of death. The Mexicans believed the immortality of the foul, and that it was rewarded or punifhed in a fu- ture flate i but buried gold and filver with the de- ceafed to defray the.expence of their journey, which they imagined to be long and troublefome. Some fervants were even flain to bear them company ; and the wives frequently killed themfelves in order to ac- company their hufbands : and when the emperor died, ftU i ■t Si y> :i s 2)2 the Conqucft o^ M Ei X I C 6, - all his houfliold officers and favourites were obliged t6 follow him to the other world. ■ The Mexican year, as well as ours, confided of 365 days, but was divided into eighteen months, of twenty days each ; and at the end of the year, five days appropriated to plcafure, and a ceflation froni bufmel's, were added to make it anfwer the courfe of the fun. They had alfo a kind of weeks of thir- teen days, to which different names were given •, and a much longer period, ftilcd ages, which confifted of four weeks of years. This large period was repre- fented in a very Angular manner : In the centre of i circle, divided into fifty two degrees, allowing a year for each, they painted the fun ; from whofe rays pro- ceeded four lines of diflferent colours, which equal- ly divided the circumference, leaving thirteen de- grees to each quarter : and here the fun had his profperous or adverfe afpedls, according to the co- lour of the line. In a larger circle, which inclofed the other, they marked with their charafters the chief occurrences of the age ; and thefe fecular an- nals were confidered as public inftruments that ferved for proofs of hiftorical fads. The Mexicans feemed to vie with each other, in exprefling their regard for the Spaniards. T.hey were daily entertained with fome new diverfion, ac which Motezuma appeared in perfbn ; a condefccn- ' fion that infpircd the people with a higher reverence and efteem for thefe ftrangers. He appeared parti-* cularly fond of Cortes ; fpending great part of his time with him : and contracted an acquaintance with his captains, to whom he frequently made prefents j in which he diftinguifhed the merit of each with 'great difcernment. Thus the Spaniards enjoyed an agreeable repofe ; but were at length alarmed by a letter from Vera Cruz, brought by two Tlafcalan foldiers, who had difguifed themfelves, fo as to ap-^ pear like Mexicans, and had entered the city un-' perceived. This I V i' by HERNANDO CORTES. 273 "This letter informed Cortes, that fome of the In- dians in alliance with the Spaniards complained to Juan de Efcalante, that Qualpopoca, one of Mote- zuma's generals, had aflembled a great body of for- ces upon the frontiers of Zempoalla, where they levied contributions with great cruelty. Upon which Efcalante fcnt to defire the Mexican general to fuf- pfnd hoftilities till further orders fhould come from Mexico, where the Spaniards, the allies of thofe people, were entertained by Motezuma with great hofpitality. But Qualpopoca fending a very info- lent anfwer, Efcalante was fo provoked, that he marched againft him at the head of forty Spaniards, and 2000 Indians ; and coming to an engagement, he put the Mexicans to flight ; and notwithitanding his being almoft entirely abandoned by his Indian allies, purfued them to the next town, where he at- tacked them with fuch refolution, that he entirely routed and di'flodged them. This vidlory however coft the Spaniards very dear •, for Juan de Efcalante was mortally wounded, fix of the foldiers alfo re- ceived feveral wounds, and Juan de Arguillo, a man of extraordinary ftature, was carried off alive. In this letter the council of Vera Cruz defired Cortes to appoint them a new governor, and to give diredtions relating to their affairs. • Cortes being greatly concerned at the lofs of Juan de Efcalante, he communicated the letter to his cap* tains i defired that each of them would give his opi- nion freely at their next meeting •, and the following morning lent for fome of the moft fcnfible Indians in his army, when having alked them, if they had lately perceived any change in the behaviour or dif- courfe of the Mexicans ? They informed him, that the nobles appeared penfive and myfterious; that they had heard fome of the people talk of breaking Vol, I. ^ T • larger i ^74 The Gdnqiiieft of MEXTCO, largencfs, and the ficrcenefs of its afpedb, andlmme- diat^ly ordered it to be concealed. From thefe circumftanccs, and particularly that of t-he head, which Cortes fuppofed belonged to Ar- guillo, he immediately concluded, that the Mexi- cans were refolved on his dcftrudtion, and Mote- zuma himielf had concerted the ruin of the Spa- niards; he therefore immediately affemWed his coun- cil, compofed of the captains and fome favourite fol* diers, and having told them his hints he had re- ceived from the Indians, afked their advice. Some propofed that they JSiould retire privately in the night; others that they Ihould obtain a paffport from Motezuma, and then retire publickly, and march to the relief of Vera Cruz : but the greatelt part were of opinion, that they Ihould continue at Mexico without feeming to know what had paffed at Vera Cruz, till they could find a proper oppor- tunity for retreating with fafety. However none of thefe fchemes were approved by Cortes, who pro- pofed their feizing Motezuma, conveying him to their own quarters, and detaining him there as an hoftage for the fmcerity of hi>s people. This daring propofal he fupported with all his eloquence, and with fuch fuccefs, that it was onanimouUy ap- plauded. Cortes having chofen the hour, when the Spi- fiiards were accuftomcd to wait upon Motezuma, for the execution of his bold projed, ordered his people to arm themfeives in their quarters, privately to iaddle their horfes, and to wait without noife for farther inftrudions. He then occupied all the ave- nues to the palace, with fmall fcattered detachments;. «nd direding thirty dioice men to follow him at a diftance, went thither attended by four of his cap- tains, who, as they ufually carried their arms with them, their doing fo now occafioned no fufpicions. Motezuma, according to cuftom, came out of his apartment to receive the vifit, and his fervants retired, :■' 'I' V ,1 ■ as ap- by HJERN^NPO CPRTES. 975 • fts ufual, to anqther.part of the palace; whep Cor- tes, with 4n air of refentment, complained of the Mexican general for attacking his confederates, ip violation of a peace, under which they thought themfclves.fecure ; for murdering a Spaniard in cold blood, and endeavouring to vindicate his perfidious condqdt, by declaring that ,he ^ded in obedience to his majefty*s commands. On hearing this charge, Motezuma changed whfn.Marina, T 2 m 276 The Conqucft of MEXICO, * to whom he addrefTed himfclf, earneftly exhorted him, as his own vaflal and fubjeft, to comply with- out heHtation, in order to preferve his life ; which had fuch an effed, that he inftantly rofe from his feat, and faid to Cortes, " I truft myfelf in your •• hands, let us go to your quarters, for fo the gods *• have decreed." He then ordered his fervants to get ready his equipage-, told his minifters that he had refolved to pals ibme days in the Spanifti quar- ters, and ordered the captain of the guard to march with a body of troops and take Qualpopoca and his officers prifoners, that they might fufFcr for having invaded Zempoalla. ■« I r;9^ The Gonqueft of M E X I C O,, . ; be put to death, till finding that th? Spanifli' gcner^ refolvcd to take away their lives, they laid the whole blame upon the emperor, wliofe orders they had obeyed. Cortes, however, treated this as a malicious afperfion, brought them to a formal trial, in which the Spaniards were both the judges and accufers, and' CTuelly fentenced them to be burned alive. To deter Motezuma from endeavouring to prevent the execution of this fentence, the general refolved on taking another furprifing ftp. He went into that prince's prefence, accompanied by Marina, and three or four captains, with a common foldier carrying fet-: ters, and hav'ng fainted the emperor with his ufual refpefl, affumcd a peremptory look, and in a loud voice told him, that Qualpopoca and his officers had acknowledged the crimes for which they were con- demned to death; but as they pretended they had done nothing without his orders, it was neceflary that he fliould fufFer fome perlonal mortification. He dien, with an air of authority, commanded the foldiep to Ihackle Motezuma^ and then leaving him, gave orders to the guards to prevent his having any com- inunication with hh minifters. Motezuma's aftonifhment at being treated in thisr ignominious manner, was fo great, that he had nei- ther power to refift, nor fpeech to complain ; while his fervants, without uttering a word, threw them- ftlves at hjs feet, and, with figns of the deepeft afflicr tion, fu'pported the weight of his fetters, to prevent their hurting his legs. However, when he firft re-: covered from his amdzement, he flew into a tranfport of rage ; but foon recovering himfelf coUedled his for- titude, and believing his life in danger, waited his- fate with dignity and refignation. In the mean time Gorces ordered the Mexican ge- neral, with his fon and the reft of the officers, to be fjoiidu^ed under a ftrong guard of Spaniards, to ar Jiarge fquare, where, in the prefence of an innumerable ^oncourfe Of people, their hands and feet were bounds : , ■ ^ftej* neral vhole ha4 cious vhich' an4t by HERNANDO CORTES. 27^ after which they were placed on a large pile of broken bows and arrows -, and fire being ft* t to it, they were- foon burned, to the amazement of all the fpedtators, who, without making the leaft difturbance, were llruck with awe and admiration. Cortes then return- ed to Motezuma's apartment, and telling him with x fhiile, that the traitors who had prefumed to blemilh* his majefty'fi charader, had now received their juib punilhment, he ftooped down, and with his own- hands took off the fetters. The emperor received hi*- Kberty with a tumultuous joy, embraced Cortes fe- veral times, and fitting both of them down together, entered into amicable converfation, during which thp" Spanifh general let him know, that as the caufe o£ his detention was now removed, he might return to his palace whenever he pleafed. This was however no more than a political qffer, which he knew he would not embrace «, for Marina had been ordered to infufe into him a firm belief, that if he quitted the Spanifh quarters, before Cortes*s departure, he would ftifFer ^atly in his reputation, as foon as it fhould be known that he received his liberty from the hand of another. He therefore declined the offer, and made a merit of his flay by faying, that on his return to his palace, his nobility and miniflers would prefs him to take up arms, in order to obtain fatisfaftion for the injury he had undergone ; and therefore, out of regard to the Spaniards, he would remain where he was. From this time the emperor feemed perfe6llv fatif- fied with his fituation, and at length had fuch con- fidence in Cortes, that he reprefented to him the ex- pediency of allowing him to vifit fome of his temples, that his fubjefts might no longer look upon him as a prifoner ; which Cortes readily granted, upon condition that human facrifices fhould be abolifhed. His firft excurfion was to the principal temple, which he en- tered with his ufual pomp and attendance, and his appearance was celebrated with the joyfi.il acclamations ©f the people, among whom he diflributed his bounty r»-^r^-^ 1' 4 with a8o The Conqucft of MEXICO, with uncommon liberality. From this time he went abroad as often as he plc.ifec), fometimcs to the palace of his wives, and at others to his picafure-houfes, where he enjoyed his focaier amufcmcnts, but never without mentioning it to" Cortes, who generally at- tended him in his parties of diverfion, and feemed io highly to engrofs his favour, that the nobles who had any petition to offer to the emperor, conllantly folli- cited the general's intcreft, which always proved fuc- cefsful. But notwithftanding this fecming tranquillity, the broken expreflTions overheard by the Tlalcaians, about breaking the caufeways, and removing the bridges, had made fuch a deep impreflion upon Cortes*s mind, that he refolved to make himfelf mailer of the lake, by building two brigantines upon it. Filled with this idea, he raifed Motezuma*s cu- rofity, by defcribing the manner of failing with the . wind, which was entirely unknown to the Mexicans, and obtained his permifllon to build two veffels for his majefty's amufement, and the inftruftion of his fub- je6ls. He then ordered the nails, cordage, canvas, and other tackle, belonging to the Spanifh Ihips that had been funk, to be brought from Vera Cruz, and fome builders who had eolilted as foldiers, were im- mediately fet at work, with many of the Mexican car- penters, who followed their diredtions, fo that in a {hort time the brigantines were compleated, and Mo- tezuma refolved to embark with the Spaniards, in order to have a nearer view of this ftrange kind of navigation. Great preparations were made for this uncommon fpedacle ; a prodigious number of canoes belonging to the emperor and others, were finely de- corated and manned with the moft expert rowers. The Mexicans firmly believing that their boats woul4 exceed the brigantines in fwiftnefs : However, ^ breeze no fooner fprung up, than thefc veflels unfurled their fails, and foon left the canoes at a great diftance, p the great amazement of the Indians ^ who coulcj t*;,^^r " ' ' ^ ''i _\ ' ■ - /'-:" form by HERNANDO CORTES. 281 form no ulea of the European manner of (leering and working fuch floating houfes : and they exprcfsly de- clared, that by means of thcfe wonderful machines, they l)elievcd the Spaniards could perfectly command the elements of wind and water. The ailonifhment of Motczuma was mingled with joy, and he beheld the vidory with the highelt dt^light, though it was obtained over hii, own fubjt- according to a cuftom pradtifed on important occa- fions. They came with equal fplendor and expcdin pen, and the council was aflembled in the king's> apartment, in the prefence of Cortes and his captains. The emperor began wich a ftudied fpeech, in whici,: he reminded them of the obligations they were under to him as their fovereign and benefactor; and having afiured them, that he had both confulted and obtained, the approbation of the gods, with refpeft to the caufe ot their meeting, repeated the ftory and prophecy of; Quezalcoal, declared that the king of Spain was the dcfcendant of that mighty prince, and confequently^ the lawful fovereign of the Mexican Empire, to- whom both he and they were bound to pay obedience^, as a mark of which he had felefted for an ofFering^ to the king, of Spain the moft precious jewels of his treafury, and he did not doubt but they would follow Jiis example, " ' ^^-» - i"-;<^«v - Motezuma was unable to pronounce this fpeech. without interruption, he fighed from time to time, and on his owning himfelf the vaflTal of another prince,, the tears trickled down his cheeks, and he was unable to proceed. Cortes then arifing, declared that it was not his Ibvereign's intention to dilpoflefs Motezuqia, or to occafion the leaft inno\i:ition in. his government, and that he only required them to fettle his rights tq the fucceffion in favour of his defcendants ; at which Motezuma refi^ming frelli courage, finilhed his fpeech* The whole aflembly were amazed, and ftruck dumb at a propofal that appeared fo inconfiftent with the fJignity and known charader of the emperor; and cpi]f|dering it as extorted by compulfion, they groan- ed 2 84 The Conqucfl: of M E X I C O, ^ ed bitterly, and with an emphatic fdence looked at each other. It is probable that Motezuma*s fole in- tention in this tranfadion, was to forward the depar- ture of his guefts, without the leaft defign of ful- filling the terms of this fubmiflion for the future. However, from that day, Charles V. was acknow- ledged, and believed by the people to be the lawful fovereign of the Mexican empire, and their homage^- according to the cuftom of the country, was authenti-' cated by a public inftrument. The emperor, having concluded this affair to his- own fatisfadion, refolved immediately to recover that liberty and independence for which he had fo long lighed in fecret, and fpecdily delivered to Cortes the prefent he had provided, confifting of ciiriofities in gold, in the fliape of birds, fifhes, and four-footed beafts, and many precious Hones, particularly a num- ber of a fort efteemed by the Mexicans above all others, which in colour refembled emeralds, and many beautiful pidures, formed of variegated fea- thers. In fhort the whole feemed the ranfom of a great prince, who thought he could not purchafe his liberty at too high a price ; and the liberality of the nobles was fuch as might be expeded from wealthy chiefs, who vied with each other in loyalty andoftentation.-^i^f^-cn^'v r-^ -\-L.^u ^r;.y .^v- ^"mN^ Motezuma having thus accomplilhed his fubjedion to Spain, lent for Cortes, and with an air of greater dignity than ufual, told him, that as his bufincfs was now difpatched, he ought to think of departing, fince his flaying any longer would be attributed to finifter motives •, nor could he longer afford him fupport when he had not reafon on his fide. This intimation, and the manner in which it was delivered, were fo unex- pcded, that Cortes was fome time before he could recoiled himfelf, fo as to make a proper reply. He now perceived the defign of convoking the alTembly, and fufpeded that Motezuma had privately affembled fome forces in order to bac|c this propofal, and there- ^"» fore for ma by HERNANDO CORTES. 2J5 fore fent one of the Spaniards who was with him to order his foldicrs to take to their arms •, and in the mean while excufed his embarrafTment at feeing his majefty more moved than ufual, afluring him that he was fo far from defigning to delay his departure, that he came on purpofe to defire his permiffion to build fome veflels to carry the Spaniards to their own country, as his majefty well knew they had loft their {hips, in which they had failed to that coaft. It is faid that the emperor had provided 50,000 men to fupport his determination •, but it is certain that he was very defirous of avoiding a rupture with Cortes, and was even under fome apprehenfions with relpedt to the anfwer he might receive 5 but he no fooner heard this artful reply, than he embraced him with lingular marks of afFedion, and having now loft his fears, told him with great complacency, that he did not intend to haften his departure before he was provided for the voyage, and that he fhould be fpeedily furnilhed with every thing he wanted. Cortes feemed in equal hafte to be gone, and difpatched his builders to Vera Cruz, in order to colled the remain- der of the iron-work, rigging, and fails of the veflels which had been funk -, but at the fame time fent pri- vate diredions to Martin LojJez his mafter-builder, to proceed flowly, and prolong the work as much as pof- iible : his real defign being to preferve his footing at Mexico till the return of his commiffaries from Spain. irtHe thus for the prefent quieted the minds of Mo- tezuma and his fubjefts -, but a very few days pro- duced an extraordinary alteration in his affairs. The emperor received intelligence that eighteen fhips had appeared upon the coaft of Pilleca, and by the paint- ings made for his majefty's" information, thefe Ihips feemed to be manned with Spaniards. This circum- ftance naturally alarmed the whole empire, and re- vived the iufpicions that had been entertained of Cortes, to whom Motezuma immediately communi- cated this intelligence 5 letting him know at the fame Kt ■ • time, 0 CORTES. 'y.^t of Motezumjl, he wore an air of tranquillity, telling him that thofe who had newly arrived, were come with a fecond embalTy to fupport tho propofirions Hq had already made ; but that as his majeily's generofity had left nothing either lor him or them to defire, h« would go back ak>ng with them. Cortes's uneafinefs was however very far from ren- dering him inadkive •, he refolved, if poffible, to bring about a reconciliation with Narvaez ; but left that (hould not fuccecd, prepared with the greateft dili- gence for war. While Cortes was taking thefe prudent fteps, Pedro^ de Solis arrived from Vera Cruz with the prifoners fent by Gonzalo de Sandoval, who had been carried in chairs on the (boulders of the Indians. When Cortes being informed of their coming, went out to receive them with a greater number of attendants than ordi- nary. He inftantly caufed their fetters to be taken off, embraced them with great appearances of cordiality, and was particularly civil to father Guevara, telling him, that he would chaftife Gonzalo de Sandoval for his (hewing fo little regard to his perfon and charadter. He then condudted him to his own apartment, com- plimented him with a place at his table, and more ^an once intimated that he felt the greatell fatisfadion at the arrival of Narvaez, with whom he had formerly lived in the molt intimate friendthip. He took him to Motezuma, and made him a witnefs of the favours he received from that great emperor, and greatly allayed the violence of his temper, by making him a prcfent of fome valuable jewels. . v / . Cortes difmiflfed them in this courteous manner^ and allowed fome time for his politic behaviour to produce the defired effect, and then fent friar Bartho- lomew de Olmedo with letters for Narvaez de Ayllon, and the fecretary Andres de Duero, and at the lamo time fumi(hed him with a ftoek of jewels, with o/dert to diftribute them according to his own fagacity and penetration. In his letter to Narvaez, he welcomed U z hm ii 'i'^ tgi The Conqucft of MEXICO, ^. : him to the Mexican coaft *, gave him an account of the conqueft ; expatiated on the ill confequences that would infallibly attend a mifunderftanding among; the Spaniards; reminded him of his duty to the King, and the friendihip which had formerly fubfifted be- tween them : defired to know his orders, which, if they were from his majefty, he promifed to obey : but intimated the mifchief that would be produced, with refoeft to the king's intereft, if he only intended to profecute the unjuft refentmcnt of Velafquez, whom he had refolved to give a (hare in the glory and advantage of his fuccefs : and concluded with telling Narvaez, that he did not ufe arguments for want of iVrength, and that he knew how to maintain his own rights. Narvaez had fixed his quarters at Zempoalla, where he was received with great hofpitality by the fat cacique, who at firft imagined, that he w^s come in order to aflift his friend Cortes •, but he was foon un- deceived J for though Narvaez had no interpreters, his anions fpoke but too plainly. He treated the Zempoallans in the mod oppreflive and imperious manner, feized the furniture and jewels which Cortes had left in his own houfe, and his foldiers were fuffered to commit every aft of rapine and violence. Guevara, on his return from Mexico, waited upon him, and expatiated on the magnificence of that city, the kind reception he had met with from Cortes, the aftonilhing degree of favour he was in with Mote- zuma, and his great defire to live in friendfhip with Narvaez -, when that imperious officer interrupting himj bid him return to Cortes, by whofe artifices he had been cajoled ; and then, with the moll (hocking marks of rudenefs and difrefpeft, thrull him from his prefence. But though the prieft was repulfed by Narvaez, he and his companions made a great im- predion on the minds of the foldiers, to whom they extolled Cortes in fuch a manner, as not only made them defire an accommodation with that general •» . but by HERNANDO CORTI S. 293 but infpired them with a diflikc to the* )wn com- mander. Olmcda foon followed Guevara, and delivered Cc tes's letter to Narvaez •, but could fcarce prevail upo; \ him t) perufc the contents, which he however fuper- ficially (kimmed over, out of compliment to the func- tion of the bearer : but fearing the influence of his periuafions among the foldiers, he ordered him to de- part from Zempoalla immediately. De Ayllon had no better fuccefs : and, in order to prevent any far- ther negociation, Narvaez ordered war to be declared again II Cortes, as a rebd and traitor ; afligning a con- fiderable reward to any who ihould take him dead or alive, and commanding the army to prepare for a march. De Ayllon, exafperated at this inftance of violence and irregularity, ordered the crier to defifty and commanded Narvaez not to ftir a foot from Zem- poalla on pain of death, or to employ the forces with- out the unanimous confent of the whole army. Upon which Narvaez ordered him to be apprehended, lent on board a veflel, and inftantly tranlported to Cuba. At the fame time de Olmedo (et out on his return to Mexico, while the principal officers in Narvaez's army were Ihocked at his infolence, and the inferior foldiers loudly murmured at his conduct. De Olmedo, on his arrival at Mexico, informed Cortes of the implacability and intemperate behaviour of Narvaez -, but encouraged him by mentioning the difpofition of the foldiers ; upon which he immediately refolvcd to take advantage of this favourable cir- cumftance; and the Spaniards at Mexico were no fooner informed of his having taken this refolution, than they exprcffed the utnioll zeal arul impatience to be in aftionj for notwithftanding the inequality of numbers, they had fuch confidence in the valour, abi- lity, and difcretion of their gen. ral, that they thought it almoft impoflible for them not to conquer, when under his command. . • . ^ v '■ ^94 The Conqucft of MEXICO, Cortes was unwilling to damp their alacrity by any unneccfTr.ry delay, and therefore repaired to Mote- zuma's apartment, in order to acquaint him with his intended march; but was not a little furprifed, at hearing that prince begin the difcourfe, and at his fay- ing, that he had from different parts received infor- mation that the Spanifh general at Zempoatla was come with very ill defigns againft him and his follow- ers : and though he did not wonder that the two chiefs fhould be at enmity from Ibme private animo- fity, he could not help thinking, that as they were the vaffals of one prince, and headed armies of con- trary faflion:, one of them mud neceffarily be a rebel to his fovercign. Cortes was fomewhat ftartled at this declaration ; but immediately availed himfelf of that prdence of mind, which never foribok him in his greated emergencies, and replied without heiltation, that the accounts received by his majefty were un- doubtedly true, and he was come to lay the fame in* telligence before him ; but that Narvaez was not to be confidered as a rebel, but rather a>: a perfon who proceeded upon wrong principles through miftake : for he was come as lieutenant or fubftitute from a mif- informcd governor, who refided in a remote province, and was therefore unacquainted with the laft refolu- tions of the court of Spain : but that all this mifun- derflanding would vanuh as foon as he fhould lay his dilbatches before that lieuteiiant. He had therefore relolved immediately tp march with part of his forces to Zempoalla, in order to difpofe them to relpedl the fubjeds of the Mexican empire as a people under the king of Spain's protection. Motezuma was much pleafed with the prolped of getting rid of fuch difagreeable vifitors, of whofe ex- actions and adts of oppreflion he was particularly in- formed : but imagining that Cortes might be expofed to fome danger, he offered to furnifh him with an army that fhould be entirely under his command, and •7 any otc- thhis 'd, at is fay- infor- a was •Uow- e two ni mo- were con- rebel at this f that in his ation, re un- bie in- not to n who ftake : a mif- vince, efoJu- nifun- ay his refore forces ft the erthe Jftof e ex- ly in- Jofed th an and latcd by HERNANDO CORTES. 295 repeated this offer with fuch carncftnc fs, that Cortes was fully convinced of his finccrity, though he de- clined accepting it, from his having but little confi- dence in the attachment of the Mexican foldicrs to his intercft. Cortes refolved upon leaving fourfcore Spaniards ia Mexico, under the command rf Pedro de Alverado, an excellent officer, who by his engaging behaviour had al-eady required great (hare ot Moieziima's friendlhip. He gave him directions relating to his condu(?l, with re^eft to the emperor, and tlie Ibldiers were ordered to obey their captain, and lerve Mpte- ?uma with the greateft refped. Thefe precautions being taken, Cortes difpatched a melPnger to Gon- jsalo de Sandoval, with orders to intrult the confe- derate Indians with the fortrels of Vera Cruz, and to march out with the Spaniards to meet him at a certain place of rendezvous. He then having taken care tp , ^obtain the neceflary fupplies on the road, fet out op his march. At Matalequita, a town of Indian friends, Cortes was joined by Gonzalo de Sandoval and his troops, with feven foldiers from Narvaez*s army, by whom he was informed of every thing that had paflcd in the enemy's quarters before they deferted. He had alfo intelligence of a frefher date from two foldiers who had gone from Vera Cruz to Zempoalla in the difguife of Indians, carrying balkets of fruit, which they ex- changed with the Spaniards for glafs-beads, and other toys, and fb dexteroufly affumed the fimplicity of the natives, that they were permitted to ^ange without the leaft fufpicion, through every part of the quarters : they even ventured to repeat this vifir, and as a proof of the carelefsnefs with which Narvaez caufed the watch to be kept, took from the very parade a horfe belonging to a captain who was one of Cortes's mod bitter enemi,es. Juan .Velafquez de Leon was fent to ufe his in- fiuence with Narvaez, from the hopes that his being y 4 relatea 2^6 The Conqueft of MEXICO, related to Diego de Velafqucz would render his me- diation the more acceptable ; and on his approaching Zempoalla, Narvacrz came with a grand retinue to meet him, fuppofing that he was come to join him 5 but had foon the mortification to find himfelf mif- taken. He however ufed many arguments to detach him from Cortes ; and to render him an eye-witnefs of his fuperior ftrength, commanded the whole army %Q be reviewed before him. The next day he invited him p dinner; biit in tl t midft of their feftivity fome farcaftic refledions were thrown out againft Cortes, and though Juan de Velafquez, to avoid prejudicing the bufmefs in which he was employed, diflembled his refentmentj yet the abufe thrown upon Cortes became fp grofs and indecent, that Velafquez being unable to reftrain his indignation, cried with fome warmth, that if any man in that company, who did potefteem Hernando Cortes, and all his 'followers, as loyal fubjeds to the king of Spain, would let him know his fentiments before fewer witneiTes, he would undeceive him in what manner foever he pleafed. Narvaez was difconcerted with this declaration •, but a young officer of the name and family of Velafqucz, replied, that no man was worthy of bearing that name, who attempted to vindicate a traitor. At this reproach, Juan gave him the lie, and drew his fword, in order to punilb him for his infolence, when the company interpofed, but found it very difficult to prevent mifchief. However, Velafquez was at length prevailed upon to (heath his fword, when abruptly leaving the company, he immediately returned xo Cortes, breathing defiance and revenge. This incident occafioncd fuch murmurs among the officers and foldiers, that Narvaez, in order to put a ^op to their clamours, was obliged to fend a perfon to Cortes, to apologize for what had happened to Juan de Velafquez, and to learn the fubftance of his commiffion, which he had not fully explained. For this purpofe he fciU the fecretary Andres de Duero, !" whq by HERNANDO CORTES. 297 who met Cortes on his march to an advantageous poft, ■which he intended to occupy till the arrival or the Chinantlans. Ducro and Cortes embraced each other like two intimate friends who had met after a long reparation •, and an interview with Narvaez was pro- pofed, to which Cortes immediately agreeing, the fecretary returned to Zempoalla, where he alTp ob- tained the confent of Narvaez. But after the time^ and place were appointed where they were to meet with only ten friends on each fide, Cortes received private advice from Duero, that Narvaez had refolved to lay an ambufcade for his life, which being con- firmed by others, he wrote to his treacherous enemy to let him know, that he was acquainted with his de- figns, and to reproach him with his bafenefs. Having thus given vent to his indignation, he continued his march, and took his ftation within a laague of Zem- poalla, where his front was defended by a river, and nis rear by the neighbourhood of Vera Cruz. Narvaez being informed of this difpofition, drew np his army, caufed war to be declared at the head of his troops, with the offer of a reward of 2000 pieces of eight to any perfon who (hould bring him Cortes's head *, and alfo fet a price upon the lives of Gonzalo de Sandoval and Juan Velafquez de Leon, He then marched to an open field at about a quarter of a league's diftance, vainly hoping that Cortes would leave his advantageous fitua- ion, to engage an enemy who had three times as many men as himfelf. But Cortes taking advantage of the difcontent of his antagonift's Ibldicrs, fatigued by a fudden ftorm which drove them back to Zempoalla; attacked and defeated them with his veterans -, received the van- quifhed into his fervice, and by his admirable con- duft found himfelf in a few hours at the head of above 1000 Spaniards. He had a fleet of eleven (hips and feven brigintines at his diipodil •, and he had the pleafure of feeing the laft effort of Diego de Velafquez entirely fruftraied. ' V' *' " '""^ 298 The Conqu-tft of MEXICO, But notwithftanding his good fortune he could not be eafy, when he refle(5ted upon Alverado's fituation, fince he knew him to be encompafled with enemies, and at the mercy of a prince who might be perfuaded to facrifice him and his few troops for the advantage of the empire. He therefore refolved to return to Mexico, and that neither Motezuma nor his people might be offended at his returning with fuch a nu- jnerous body, he propofed to divide his army, and (Employ the greaceft part of it in other conquelts. i^ While Cortes was taking thefe meafures, a letter from Alverado occafioned an alteration in his fcheme. JBy this letter he was informed, that though Mote- zuma had never once attempted to leave the quarters, the Mexicans had taken up arms, and unlefs he and :his men were immediately fuccoured, they muft all inevitably perilh. And what was ftill more extra- ordinary, the foldier who brought this letter, was accompanied by an ambaffador from Motezuma, who prefled Cortes to return as foon aspofllble, and aflured him, that though his own life ilioiild be M ftake, he would never abandon Akerado. ' • -^ Upon receiving this intelligence, Cortes began his march with 1000 foot and joo horfe ; the army tak- ing different routs, in order to be the more eafily fupplied with provifions. They rendezvoufed near Tlafcala, at which city they were received with great joy and affe6tion. That republic ftimulatcd him againft the Mexicans, and offered to aflemble alj their troops for his fervice. He, however, declined the offer, and contented himfelf with taking a body of 2000 men. Cortes paffed the caufcway without the leaft oppo- sition, notwithftanding his perceiving many marks of the fury of the Mexicans. For his two brigantines were ftaved to pieces, and half burnt. On his en- tering Mexico, the fuburbs were abandoned ♦, the bridges, by which the greets had a communication with each other, were broken down, and a profound . -T ' * . ^ filence by HERNANDO CORTES. 299 filcnce reigned over the city. Thefe fufpicious fymptoms made Cortes order the infantry to flacken their pace, while the cavalry marched before to re- connoitre : but the Spaniards who had been Jeft in the city, foon difcovering the army, raifed a great ihout, and removed his apprehenfions. Pedro de Alverado with his people received them at the gate pf his quarters, in a tranfport of joy, and Motezuma himfelf went to the outward court to meet Cortes, whom he embraced with all the marks of a fincere affeftion. v r Cortes having taken proper meafures for the fecq- rity of the troops, retired with Alverado, to inquire into the caufe of that fedition among the Mexicans ; when that officer informed Kim, that foon after his departure a confpiracy was concerted againft the Spa- niards, in which it was agreed to aflfemble the inha- bitants under the pretence of celebrating annual dances called Mitates, when the nobles were to harangue the |)opulace, and immediately proceed to the Spanifli quarters, in order to extirpate the infolent ftrangers, who kept their emperor prifoner, and treated even their gods with contempt. * On the morning preceding the day appointed, fome of the chief perfons in this fedition, came to defire Alverado's permiflion to celebrate their feftival. However he was that very night informed that they were very bufy in concealing confiderable quantities of arms in houfes near the temple •, upon which he refolvcd to anticipate the execution of their fcheme, by attacking them before they fhould have time either to take arms, or to raife the populace. This ill-judged fcheme he put in execution. He left the fort with his 50 under the pretence of feeing the di- verfion -, and perceiving the Mexicans intoxicated with liquor, attacked and difperfed them without op- pofition ; many of them being killed and wounded in their flight. The Spaniards dripped them of their jewels and other ornaments 5 after which Alverado fV;;- rb ' ■ retired, 300 The Conqueft of MEXICO, ' ' retired, without taking the neceflary ftep of acquaint-. ing the people, with his motives for committing an adion, which was naturally imputed to avarice. The people incenfcd at feeing the nobility flaughtered and pillaged before their eyes, now ran to arms, and raifed a formidable infurredion. They had feveral times attacked the Spanifh quarters, and being fo fuccefsful as to kill three or four Spaniards, their courage was raifed to fuch an height, that inftead of dreading the refentmcnt of Cortes, and his troops, which were fo greatly increafed ; they retired to ano- ther part of tl.i town, leaving the entrance open, that by giving the Spaniards an opportunity of be- ing united, they might furround and deftroy them at once. Cortes cenfured Alverado very feverely for his ralh- nefs, and made him fo fenfible of his indifcretion, that he defired to be imprifoned, in order to facilitate the reduftion of the inraged multitude. The Mexicans made no attempt that night ; but the lame myfterious filence prevailing the next morn- ing, Cortes ordered Diego de Ordas to march through the principal ftreets, at the head of 400 Spanifh and Tlafcalan foldiers, and if pofTible to penetrate into their defigns. But Diego had not proceeded far, when he was all at once oppofed by an innumerable multitude, who ran boldly up to his front, while another army, which had been concealed in the ftreets, attacked him in the rear : at the fame time all the terraces and windows on each fide were crowded with armed men, who (howered upon them an infinite number of arrows, darts and ftones. Diego endea- voured to make his rjctreat, though he was obliged to cut his way fword in hand. In this engagerrient he left feven foldiers dead upon the fpot, and both himfelfand the greateft part of his men wounded. The Mexicans followed him with inconceivable fu- ry, till they were terrified and driven back by the artillery from the Spanifh quarters, which made a , rr. , preadipj by HERNANDO CORTES. 301 dreadful flaughter. They however halted within fight, and the ftreets were foon filled again with armed men, whofe drums and fhells founding the fignal for an affault, they advanced with prodigious impetuofity. They advanced to the very gates, which they endeavoured to cut in pieces, with in- ftruments edged with, flint ; and others made ladders of their pikes and lances, in order to fcale the walls. They were however at laft repulfed, when they re- tired for cover to the crofs-ftreets, where they flaid till the approach of night, and then raifcd another terrible alarm, by beginning a very different kind of fight; for by Ihooting fire- arrows into the quarters, they produced a dreadful conflagration in . feveral parts of the building, which forced the Spaniards to break down walls, to prevent the communication of the flames, and then to labour the greateft part of the night in repairing the breaches they had made, in order to put themielves again in a pofture of de- fence. The next morning the enemy appeared at a dif- tance ; and though afraid of advancing within can- non ihot, challenged the Spaniards to come to battle with many injurious reproaches. Cortes, who had refolved to make a fally, took this opportunity to inflame the minds of his foldiers with a fliort fpeech ; and finding them impatient of delay, divided his whole force into three battalions •, two of which were direded to clear the crofs ftreets, while he himfelf took the large ftreet, where the greateft body of the enemy was pofted. The Mexicans ftood the firft charge without giving ground, and even foitghc hand to hand with their clubs and two-handed fwords, which they wielded with incredible fury ; nor could the fire-arms put a ftop to the fliowers of ftones and javelins that were thrown from the windows and balconies, till fire was fet to fome of the houfes. The Mexicans however at laft gave way ; but as they rctrcatcdi broke down the bridges of the ftreets, which 302 The Conqueft of MEXICO, which obliged the Spaniards to fill up the canals, before they could profecute the vidlory. The lofs of the enemy was fo great, that the dead bodies lay in heaps, and the canals of the city was tinged with blood. Cortes, who had loft ten or twelve men in this aftion, did not chufe to continue a piirfuit, but allotted three days for the refrefhment of his troops ; during which he renewed his overtures of peace, by means of fome Mexicans, who were in Motezuma's fervice : but at the fame time continued to obferve the ftrideft vigilance and precaution -, and, among other ftratagems, contrived four wooden towers to run upon wheels, each of which was capable of con- taining twenty or thirty men, who might fet houfes on fire, and deftroy the barricados raifed in the prin- cipal ftreets. Having finiftied thefc machines, he made a fecond fally with the principal part of the Spaniards, together with the whole body of Tlafca- lans, who had fought with great bravery in the laft engagement. He alfo took fome pieces of artillery, the wooden towers, and a few led horfes, that were to be ufed occafionally. The Mexicans were now commanded by the prin- cipal nobles, who had greatly augmented the army, and waited for the Spaniards in profound filence ; but the latter had no fooner begun their march, than they were fuddenly furprifcd with the hoarfe and difagreeble found of their fea-fhells and drums, added to the fhouts of an innumerable multitude, which advanced with unufual regularity, and amaz- ing refolution, giving and receiving the firft char- ges without being difordered. When they were tbrced to give way, they retired leifurely, without turning their backs, and renewed the fight at every canal or barricado, with fuch obftinacy, that they were not to be diflodged without the artillery. From the windows, balconies, and terraces, large ftones and fragments of rocks, provided for that purpofe, were hurled, by which the moving towers were foon (battered by HERNANDO CORTES. 303 fhattercd to pieces : and, in Ihort, the battle was fought with fuch method and alacrity, as plainly proved that it was conduced by a general in chief. The engagement continued the greateft part of the day •, and night drawing on before Cortes had made much progrefs, he retired to his quarters, witk the lofs of 40 men, who were chiefly Tlafcalans ; and with 50 Spaniards much wounded, lie himfelf receiving a Ihot with an arrow in his left hand. He now began ferioufly to refleft, that notwithftanding all the advantages he had obtained over the Mexi- cans, his numbers, in a feries of fuch viftorics, would be greatly diminilhed ; and that in cafe of a general revolt againft Motezuma, they might eafily ftarve him in his quarters : nor was the emperor him- felf under lefs uneafmefs. From the higheft turret of the palace he had obfervcd the battle, and could eafily diftinguifh the cacique of Iztapalapa, and other nobles, who might afpire to the empire. He dread- ed the lofs of his crown ; and being fenfible that he could never reftore his fubjefts to obedience, while the Spaniards remained at Mexico, he fent for Cor- tes the next morning, told him his fentiments, and intreated him to leave the city, that he might return to his own palace, refume the reins of government, and quell the feditions of his people. Cortes readily confented to this propofal, and re- folved to retire for the prefent •, that he might hwc leifure to concert a new plan, and be enabled to xe- cute it with a better profpeft of fuccefs : Lut his conference with the emperor was interrupted, by his being told that the enemy was advancing with great fury, to make a general attack upon the quarters. They ruihed on with prodigious impetuofity, and in fpite of the havock made among them by the artil- lery and fmall arms, behaved with fuch bravery, that fome of them got over the walls -, which obliged Cortes to form a body of referve in the principal coutt, whence he occafionally fent detachments to fupport 304 The Conqucfi of MEXICO, > fupport fuch as were hard prefled or fatigued with adtion. While the aflault was thus carrying on with amaz^ ing vigour, Motezuma propofed to (how himfclf to the people from the wall, in order to command the populace to tetire •, and order the nobles to come unarmed into his prtfence, tliat he might take pro- per meafurcs to redrefs their grievances. This mo- tion being approved by Cortes, the emperor imme- diately adorned himfelf with the enfigns of royalty, and then mounted the terrace, with the principal Mexicans who continued in his fervice •, one of whom, advancing to the rails, called with a loud voice, thnt the great Motezuma had condefcended to come forth and redrefs their grievances. His name was no foon- er mentioned, than the out-cries of the people ccaf- cd, and they ftood filent and n^otionlefs, as if awed by fomething fupernatural ; and when he appeared, the whole multitude humbled themfelves to the earth. He looked around him with a majeftic air, and dif. tinguifhing the nobles in the crowd, defired them leverally by name to approach ; thanked them for the zeal and afFedion they had (hewed in his fervice, and reprefcnted to the people that they were actuat- ed by a principle of miftaken loyalty ; that his re- fiding among the Spaniards was not the efFc6t of compulfion i that he was refolved to difmifs them from his court, and therefore deHred his fubjcdts to lay down their arms. This condefcenfion made fuch an impreflion upon the hearers, who had been ufcd to obey him with fear and trembling, that many wept to fee the em- peror fo humbled ; and the refl; hung down their heads, and ftood in filence and fufpence. But thefe favourable difpofitions were foon changed. Some of the emiflfaries belonging to a caciaue, who hoped to iucceed Motezuma, upbraiding the prince with be- ing a coward, a prifoner, and a (lave, raifed a cla- mour among the people v and inftantly turned their com- by HERNANDO CORTES. 305 companion into fuch a rage, that they curfed him, and uttered the moft opprobrious invedlives. The motions he made with his hand and head were now difregarded ; and his efforts to fpeak rendered inef- fedlual, by their repeated Ihouts, till at length they let fly a fhower or arrows againft him. The fol- diers being near him, endeavoured to cover him with their bucklers •, but in fpite of all their care, he was wounded in feveral places, and received a terrible blow upon one of his temples, which brought him to the ground. Cortes having caufed him to be carried to his apartment, refolved to be revenged on the authors of this misfortune. But he then could find no enemy on whom he could wreak his revenge •, for the emperor no fooner fell, than the Mexicans, ftruck with horror and confternation, in- ftantly fled. Motezuma had fcarcely recovered his fenfes, when he became frantic with rage ; imprecated the moft dreadful curfes upon his rebellious fubjedts ; and re- fufed to lillen to the remonftrances and conlblations of Cortes, who in vain endeavoured to comfort him. He tore the bandages and plaifters from his wounds, and even attempted to put an end to his life ; which made it neceflary to rellrain him by force ; and then he abfolutely refufed to take any manner of fufte- nance. The wound in his head was very dangerous; and the agitation of his mind foon rendered it mor- tal. Cortes joined with father Bartholomew de Ol- medo in perfuading him to renounce his idolatry; but all their arguments were to no purpofe : and he expired, after having conjured the general to revenge his death. Motezuma's unhappy fate filled Cortes with great concern. He was now obliged to form a new plan, and to quit all the advantages he enjoyed by his in- fluence at the court of Mexico. 1 he firft ftep he took, was appointing fix of Motezuma's principal attendants, Ibme of whom were priefts, to carry Vol. I. • X - out 3o6 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, out his body to the rebels j with orders to tell the princes who headed them, that he had fent them the corpfe of their late fovereign, whom they them- felves had murdered j and who, before his death, had earneftly conjured him to revenge his wrongs, find chaftife them for their abominable rebellion. But as he imagined the infurreclion was not approv- ed by the nobles, he once more propofed peace, and was ready to agree to any reafonable conditions : but fhould they negledt his propofal, as his refpeft for Motezuma could no longer moderate his relent- ment, he would lay wafte their city with fire and (word. ■ ..-U... - -.. r. „ ;. The bearers ojf the corpfe were met at a fmall dif- tance from the (i[uarters by a body of the inhabi- tants, who threw down their arms, and followed their deceafed fovereign with the moft profound reverence and refpeft. The city was inftantly filled with la- mentations i and though another emperor was al- ready elefted, they teftified their repentance by the ftrongcft expreflions of forrow, running about the ftreets in clamorous tumults till the next morning, when they conveyed the body to the mountain of Chapultepeque, where it was interred with great fo- Icmnity. Thus fell the great Motezuma, the moft power- ful emperor that had ever filled the Mexican throne. He had reigned feventeen years -, was the eleventh in the number of emperors, and the fecond of that name. He left four fons, and three daughters*, two of the former, who lived with their father in his confinement, weire afterwards killed by the Mex- icans in Cortes*s retreat. The daughters afterwards embraced the chritlian religion, and were married to Spaniards : Bur the moft diftinguiflhed of his de- fcendants was one of Motezuma*s fons, who at his baptifm took the name of Don Pedro de Motezuma, and received many favours from his Catholic majefty, who gave him confiderable polTelfions in New Spain, with by HERNANDO CORTES. 307 with the title of count of Motczuma, which his pof- terity ftill enjoy. No attempt was made upon the Spanifli quarters while the emperor remained ill of his wounds, which Cortes attributed to their being filled with horror at the thoughts of the crime they had committed •, but it was all owing to the nobility being wholly employ- ed in the inauguration of Quilavaca, cacique of Iz- tapalapa, whom they raifed to the throne. The Mexicans, inftead of liftening to the propd- fal made by Motezuma's fervants, renewed the war with greater vigour than ever ; and on the morning that iucceeded the late emperor's funeral, all the ftreets were, by break of day, filled with armed men. They had alfo put a ftrong garrifon in the tower- of the temple which commanded part of the Spanifli quarters. This important poft, which was defended by 500 chofen men of the nobility, Cortes refblved at all events to carry. He therefore drew the greateft part of his ftrength out of the quarters, and having formed feverai battalions, fufficient to rut off all communication between the towers and tiie Indians in the ftreets, he ordered captain Efco- bar, with a confiderable detachment, to attack the temple, which was of difficult accefs. That officer marched to the lower porch without oppofition ; but fuddenly the defendants from the upper porch difcharged fuch a fhower of lances, arrows, large ftones, and half- burnt beams of timber, provided for that purpofe, that the aflailants were thrown into diforder, and obliged to retreat in confufion, after their having returned three times to the attack. Mean while Cortes was at the head of a troop of" horfe, bufily employed in fupporting thofe who mod needed his affiftance ; but feeing Efcobar defeated, he inftantly quitted his horfe, caufed a fhield to be faftened to his arm, on account of the wound in his hand ; then flying to his affiftance, advanced to the ftairs with fuch intrepidity, as infpired his followers X 2, with 3o8 The Conqucft of MEXICO, . . with the ambition to imitate his example. In an in- flint the action was renewed with furprizing oblli- nacy ; and two Mexicans who had devoted their lives to the fervicc of their country, feeing Cortes upon a tower, threw down their arms, ran up to him, and (looping down like fupplicants, feized him, and en- diivourcd to throw him over the rails: but after flruggling with them for fome time, he had the good fortune to difengage himfelf; upon which, they threw themfelves headlong from the tower, and their brains were dafhed out againft the pavement. The Mexicans were at lad obliged to retire from the con- tinued fire of the Spaniards ; and the general return- ed with his troops into the quarters, after they had made a dreadful havoc among the enemy, and burnt a confiderable part of the city. The next day the enemy defired a parley *, which being granted by Cortes, feveral of the nobles ap- proached the walls, and in the name of the new em- peror, propofed that the Spaniards fliould inllantly march down to the fea-fide, and leave the country, upon which condition they promifcd to put an end to all hoftilities : but obferved, that fhould he re- ject this propofal, they muft all inevitably perlfh ; for as they v/ere now convinced by experience, that the Spaniards were mortal, they were refolved to continue their attacks ; and though the death of eve- ry Chrillian fhould coft them 20,000 lives, they would have a nur.iber left fufficient to rejoice at their fuccefs. To this Cortes replied, that the Spaniards did not pretend to be immortal, though they were fo fupe- rior to the Mexicans, that with his handful of men he could deftroy the whole empire : but being mov- ed by the calamities, they, through their obllinacy, had fuffercd, he was ref Wed to depart ; and that he only waited till the neceiTary preparations were made for his march, and other articles agreed upon for the reciprocal advantage of both parties. The no- bles by HERNANDO CORTES. J09 bles fecmed pleafed with this anfwer, though the overtures they had made were intended to anfwer a very different purpofc. It had been agreed by the ' new emperor and his council, that in Head of expol- ing thenil'elves to luch terrible fluughter, as the peo- ple had always fuffered from the artillery and lire- arms, they (hould diftrefs the Spaniards by famine •, and amufe them with negotiations, till bcinjr weak- ened and difpirited by hunger, they might fall upon them to greater advantage. They recolledlcd that Mo- tezuma*s three fons and other perfons of diftin6tion were prifoners in the Spanifli quarters ; but willing- ly devoted them as facrifices to the good of their country, except their chief prieft, whom they re- folved, if poflible, to deliver. The deputies therefore returned the fame evening with a propofal, that fome of the Mexican prifoners Ihould be fent with inftru(5lions to the emperor 5 artfully hinting, that the moll proper perfon would be a certain ancient prieft, who being an intelligent man, would be able to remove whatever difficulties might be ftarted. Cortes readily aflfented to the propofal, and made the prieft acquainted with his demands, in relation to the neceflaries he fhould want in his march j refolving, if he fhould return, to ex- plain himfelf with refpedt to their laying down their arms and delivering hoftages. But they had not the leaft intention to fend him back, or to come to an amicable agreement ; which was very evident from their making trenches to defend the paffage of the canals, breaking down the bridges of the principal caufeway, and cutting off all communication with the road leading to Tlafcala. Cortes was greatly alarmed at this intelligence, and immediately or- dered a portable bridge to be made, ftrong enough to bear the weight of the artillery, and fo light as to be carried by 40 foldiers. Men were immediately employed in making this bridge J and at the fame time Cortes alTcmbJed his *•<"',•' . . X 3 , captains, 310 The Conqucft of MEXICO, * captains, in order to confult whether they Ihould re- treat by day or by night : for he was rcfolved to re- tire to Tlafcala, and there to take meafures for lay- ing ficge to the city of Mexico. The majority of the officers propofed a retreat by night, on account of the fupcrftition of the Mexicans, which made it unufual for them to engage an enemy after fun-fet ; and from the difficulty of attacking them in the ca- noes in the dark. This was however warmly oppo- fed by Cortes, and feveral others •, but the queftion being put to the vote, the majority declared for the firft propofal, to which Cortes aflented •, and it was refolved, to give the enemy as little time as poffible to form obilrudlions, by beginning their march that very night. The carpenters had no fooner finilhed the bridge, which was to be moved from one open- ing in the caufeway to another, than Cortes fent an- other Mexican in order to amufe the enemy with farther propofals of peace, while he made the pro- per difpofitions for his retreat. The order of march being fixed, he caufed the treafure to be brought in- to his apartment, and taking one fifth for the king, in what was portable, he delivered it to the commii- fary with feme wounded horfes for the carriage -, but the remainder, which amounted to upwards of 700*000 pieces of. eight, he propofed to leave, as a dangerous incumbrance : but finding the foldiers unwilling to lofe their Ihare, he gave them leave to take what they could conveniently carry •, in confe- quence of which, fome of the nioft avaritious, who were among thofe who came with Narvaez, loade4 themfelves fo heavily, that they ftaggered under theijr burdens. Cortes having taken thefe previous fteps, encou- raged the loldiers by a fhort fpeech j and about mid- night they began their march with great filence and circumfpedlicn, being favoured by the wetnefs of the weather, and the darkncfs of the night. The bnci^ei which was carried in the front, was laid over by HERNANDO CORTES. 311 over the firft canal before they met with the leaft oppofition i but the weight of the artillery and horfe jammed it fo fail, that they found it impradlicable to remove it ; and indeed they had no time to ufe much pains about it •, for before the army had paf- fed the firft breach of the caufeway, they were Sud- denly attacked on all (ides : for the enemy having ob- ferved their motions, had alTembled their troops and canoes with fuch expedition and filence, that the lake was covered on each fide of the caufeway. The attack began with great regularity, and had the Mexicans continued to preferve the fame good order during the engagement, Cortes and his whole army muft have perilhed. But they foon returned to their ufual way of charging in confufion, by which means many of the canoes were dalhed to pieces againft each other, and the Spaniards made a dreadful flaughter. They were attacked in front by a vaft number, who being impatient till they came to ac- tion, had thrown themfelves into the } ;ke, and clam- bered up the caufeway in order to difpute the paf- fage ; but they were fo crowded, that they had fcarcely room to make ufe of their weapons : and the flaughter was, according to fome authors, fo great, as to fupply a fufHcient number of bodies, to form a paflage for the Spaniards in the lake. But other authors alledge, that the enemy left the beam of the fecond bridge, on which the foldiers paflied over in files, leading their horfes through the v/ater by the bridles. Cortes, on his reaching the Ibore, ordered the men to be formed as faft as they arrived -, and then return- ed to the caufeway, entered into the engagement, and animated the men by his prefence and example. He caufed each fide of the caufeway to be lined with foldiers, who were to repel the enemy, while the reft marched between them in the centre ; and to facili- tate the march, he ordered the artillery to be thrown into the water : but notwithftanding all his vigi- .. > X 4 lance, 3 1 2 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, ' '^ lance, part of the rear-guard was cut in pieces, the bridge being deftroyed by the Mexicans in the ca- noes before thefe unhappy men could pafs it, and thefe chiefly confifted of thofe who had fo overloaded themfelves with treafure, that they were incapable of exerting themfelves in their own defence. The army having pafled over the lake by break of day, halted near Tobuca, to give time to thofe who had efcaped from the battle to join their friends; a precaution which faved the lives of fcveral Spaniards and Tlalcalans, who had fwam afhore, and conceal- ed themfelves in fome fields of maize till the morn- ing. Thefe brought intelligence that the laft divi- fion of the rear guard was entirely cut off; and the troops being reviewed, their lofs was found to amount to about 200 Spaniards, above looo Tlafcalans, and 46 horfes, with all the Mexican prifoners ; who, in the dark nefs and confufion of the night, were treat- ed as enemies by their own countrymen. The Spa- niards were much dejc6ted at finding how greatly their number was diminifhed ; at the lofs of their ,artillery, and at the apprehenfion of being every moment again aflaulted, while they were opprefTed with fatigue. Their afiiidlion was incrcafed by the lofs of fome excellent officers, among whom was Juan Velafquez de Leon, who brought up the rear. Had the Spaniards been now attacked, before they had time to refrelh themfelves, and recover their fpirits after the fatigue of the battle, they would in all probability have been eafily deftroyed : but an event which they confidered as extremely un- fortunate, prolonged their lives, by giving them tiine to repofe. It has already been obferved that all the Mexican prifoners were killed in the engage- meni ; and in the morning when the enemy went to Itrip the dead, they found three of Motezuma's fons, whom they had killed with their arrows. At this fpe6lacle they were amazed and ftupified ; the troops were feizcd with confternation, and the news of this »« • "• , t -- ^vent by HERNANDO CORTES. 313 event foon reached the new emperor : he ordered the bodies of thefe unhappy princes to be conveyed to the burying-place of their anceftors, and all the inhabi- tants attending their funeral, afforded the Spaniards this feafonable rcfpite. Mean while Cortes marched with great caution towards Tlafcala, fufpcfting that the enemy's delay proceeded from fome deHgn, which had been form- ed againft him ; and indeed the Spaniards had not proceeded far, before they obferved feveral compa- nies of armed men following the army at a diftance. Thefe were fome of the inhabitants of feveral cities whom the Mexicans had ordered to obferve the mo- tions of the Spaniards, and retard their march, till they themfelves had discharged their laft duty to the fons of Motezuma. At length the whole body of the Mexicans app*eared, and joining the others, at- tacked the army with great impetuofity. Cortes placed his fire-arms and crofs-bows in the front, and then ordered the horfe to advance and charge the Indians, which they did with great fuccefs ; but their TS'^mies continually increafing, the Spaniards were - »t gued with killing them, and begaft to defpair or their ever being able to rout fuch a prodigious multitude : when Cortes perceiving an edifice with turrets on the top of an eminence near the field of battle, refolved to gain that poft, which he effected. As this building was a temple, that had a ipacious court, encompalfed by a wall and feveral towers, it was eafily defended. The Spaniards here found fhel- ter from the danger to which they had been expofed ; and on account of this fignal relief, afterwards ereft- cd an hermitage on the fpot, which is dill known by the name of Neufira Sennora de Los Remedies, or Our Lady of Relief. The Mexicans approached near the walls ; but having difcharged a great number of arrows, retir- ed toward Mexico : however the Spaniards perceiv- ed from the tops of the towers that they halted in '"^^ ■ '" ^ the 314 The Conqucft of M E X I C O, the plain, where thqy divided into fever^l bodies. The men were refrelhed with feme provifions they found in the temple, and with what the Indians had faved with their baggage, and had their wounds dref- jted, the linen horfe- cloths ferving for lint and ban- dages. Thefe neceflary talks being performed, Cor- tes called a council of his ofHcers, and propofed, as this poft could not be maintained for want of pro- vifions, ^nd as they could not hope to make their retreat while furrounded by fuch a multitude of the enemy, they fhould feize this opportunity of conti- nuing their march, during the night, in order that they might be two or three leagues from the Mexi- cans the next morning. This propofal being una- nimoufly approved, fome hours reft were allotted for the refrefliment of the people, who were dreadfully fatigued; and at midnight they retired from the temple, leaving the fires burning, in order to deceive the enemy. After a march of four leagues, they came to a village advantageoufly fituated, which was defertcd by its inhabitants, where they itaid two days till the wounded were again able to travel. They then marched two days through a rocky and barren country, at a diftance from the great road j which they purpofely avoided, being without fhelter in the night, perpetually harra0ed by flying parties of Indians. In the lail of thefe marches, they reach- ed a village, where the inhabitants provided every thing for their entertainment with an air of franks nefs and hofpitality ; which was no more than an ill- judged ftratagem, defigned to lull the Spaniards into a carelefs fecurity. Early the next morning the army afcended a mountain, on the other fide of which was the valley of Otumba -, when Marina obferved, that the In- dians who ilill followed at a diftance, fhouted and frequently exclaimed, " Proceed, tyrai.ts ; you'll ** foon arrive at the place where you will all perifli." Cortes took all poflible precaution to prevent being vw, fur- fur- by HERNANDO CORTES. 315 furprized : but on his reaching the top of the moun- tain, he found the palTage or the troops eifedually obftruded by an immenfe multitude of ^rmed men, who covered the extenfive plain of Otumba. Thefc were the Indians they encountered at the firfl: temple, reinforced by a vaft number of people from Mexico, with the principal nobles at their head, who had feparaced into feveral bodies, and marched by diffe- rent roads with fuch expedition as to get the ftart of the Spaniards, and unite in this fpacious plain, where there was no danger of their being embarrafled for want of room. The front of the army, which ap- peared from the diverfity of the colours and ftandards, to be of different nations, extended along the whole breadth of the valley •, but the eye could not reach the extremity of the rear. In the centre appeared the captain-general of the empire, borne in a lumptuous chariot upon men's fhoulders, that he might the bet- ter judge of emergencies, and fee his orders punflu- ally obeyed. Near him was the royal ftandard of Mexico, which was a net of mafly gold, fattened to a pike, crowned with a plume of variegated feathers ; and this ilandard was never brought into the field, but upon the mofl extraordinary occalions. Indeed this vaft army, with the motions of their different weapons, and their feather waving in the wind, form- ed an appearance that was at once beautiful and tre- mendous. Cortes having taken a view of this dreadful army, turned with alacrity to his foldiers, and told them that they muft either conquer or die ; but was im- mediately interrupted by his men, who called out, that he (hould give the word and lead them to battle. He was unwilling to balk their ardour ; and having ranged them in order, immediately advanced. The foldiers gave no flroke either wifh their lances or fwords, but what was fatal. Cortes, reflefting that the ilrength of his men muft foon fail, recollected that he had heard .among the Mexicans, that the whole fuccels 3i6 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, ' fuccels of the battle depended upon the royal ftand- ard i the lofing of which decided the fortune of the day. Upon which he inftantly refolved to make an extraordinary effort to obtain it i and commanded Sandoval Alverado de Olid, and Davila to follow and fecure his rear, while he, with his troop of horfe, charged that part which appeared weakcft and near- eft the centre. This troop trode down whole batta- lions, and foon cut rheir way to the place where the imperial ftandard was defended by a guard compofed of the nobles ; when Cortes fpurring his horfe through the midft of ihem, wounded the captain- general, and threw him from his chariot with the firft ftroke of his lance : and Juan de Salamanca, a pri- vate gentleman, leaped from his horfe, dii'patched the general, and feizing the ftandard, gave it into the hands of Cortes. The Mexicans no fooner beheld the imperial ftan- dard in the power of the Spaniards, than they ftruck all the reft of their colours, and betook themfelves to a precipitate flight ; while the viftorious Spaniards made a dreadful (laughter of the fugitives, 20,000 Indians being faid to be killed in the battle and pur- fuit. The fpoils which Cortes divided among the foldiers, were very confiderable ; for the Mexicans depending upon their number, which amounted to 200,000, came adorned with their beft jewels, as to a certain triumph. 1 ^^av/ . ' The Spaniards now purfued their march, but not without fome fuipicion of being again attacked, as fcveral bodies of men were feen on tlie tops of the mountains •, but they proceeded without moleftation, and the next day they entered the co.ifines of Tlaf- cala, when the whole army exprefled their joy by loud acclamations, and the Tlafcalans kiffed the earth. At noon Cortes entered Gualipar, a confide- rable town, where he was received with great hofpi- tality ; and having quartered his troops there, he fent two Tlafcalans to the fenate with an account of hi§ by HERNANDO CORTfiS. 317 his retreat : but the meflengers were fcarcely dif- miffed, when he was vifited by Magifcatzin, Old Xicotencal, with his fon, and others deputed by the fenate, to compliment him upon his return. They propofed his immediately proceeding to the city, where quarters were already provided for the Spa- niards. But he chofe to remain in his prefent fitua- tion, till his people fhould be refrefhed and intirely recovered from their fatigues, to which the Tlaf- calans the more readily aflented, as this would give them time to prepare for his reception, and his enter- ing the city in a folemn triumph. The Spniards were liberally fupplied with necef- faries at the cxpence of the public, during a ftay of three days at Gualipar; when adorning themfelves with the plumes and jewels of the vanquilhed Mexi- cans, they began their march for Tlafcala, which they entered in Juiy 1520. The fenate in their richeft robes came out with a numerous attendance to receive them ; the fields were crowded with people ; the air was filled with acclamations, and they were faluted at their entrance with the founds of flutes, drums and horns. But in the midft of this feftival, a damp was given to the public joy by Cortes's illnefs. A wound he had raceived in his head broke out afrelh ; he was feized with a dangerous fever, and his friends began to defpair of his life. But the fenate employing the mod expert phyficians in the country, he fpeedily recovered. Cortes now impatiently longed to know the (late of affairs at Vera Cruz, and therefore fent a letter to the governor, by an Indian courier, who foon re- turned with an anfwer, that no alteration had yet happened in the garrifon or on the coaft -, and that Narvaez and Salvatiera were ftill in fafe cuftody : but that a corporal and eight foldiers, who had been fent to Tlafcala for the gold belonging to the garri- fon, were not r<;turned ; that it was reported among the ji i the Cotiqneft of^ M E X t C 6, the Indians, that they were murdered in the pro- vince Tepeaca, and that it was feared the wounded foldiers belonging to Narvaez had met with the fame fate i for being impatient to reach Mexico, which they confidered as the centre of their wealth, they, as faft as they, recovered, had marched away from Zempoalla for that city. Indeed the truth of this report was now confirmed by the Tlafcalans, who had hitherto concealed it from Cortes, left it fhould retard his recovery ; and he had the mortification to find himfelf thus deprived of a reinforcement of near 50 Spaniards, who had been deftroyed by the Indians or Tepeaca. Cortes therefore refolved to be revenged on that nation, which lay between him and Vera Cruz, and the Tlafcalans promifed to intereft themfelves in the quarrel. At this time ambafladors from the new emperor of Mexico arrived at Gualipar, whence they fent to defire leave of the fenate to enter the city, with pro- jbofals of peace ; and this being granted with the con- lent of Cortes, they made their public entry with great fplendor and folemnity, and were received in the fenate houfe -, where they made offers of peace and perpetual alliance, on condition of their declar- ing war againft the Spaniards, and alTifting them in their endeavours to extirpate thofe ftrangers. Their Ipeech was interrupted by the murmurs of the aiTem- bly, who were exalperated at the propofal. How- ever they wtre permitted to retire to the lodgings alllgned them, till the fenate Ihould deliberate upon the fubjedt of the embafly ; when it was unanimoufly agreed to rejeft their propofals. But the ambafla- dors did not wait for a formal difmiffion ; for dread- ing left fome popular infurredlion fliould be raifed againft them, they fled with great precipitation. Notwithftanding the regard the Tlafcalans upon this and other occafions ftiewed for the Spaniards, Xi- cotencal ftill hated and envied Cortes; and had hitherto dilguifed thefe difpofltions under the mafque of impc ing le pro- junded »e fame which I, they, ly from of this IS, who c fhould ation to ment of I by the ed to be him and > intereft emperor ;y fent to with pro- i the con- ury with iceived in of peace ;ir declar- ; them in s. Their the affem- II. How- e lodgings erate upon lanimoufly I ambalTa- for dread- , be raifed ation. alans upon .niards, Xi- . and had the mafque of by HERNANDO CORTES. 319 of friendOiip. Though he did not (6 much as fpeak in the fenate, in behalf of the Mexican propofals, he took the opportunity of fowing jealoufies among t'he people by means of his friends •, who privately mag- nified the advantages of an alliance with the Mexi- cans, and reprefented, with fome truth, their friend- fhip for the Spaniards as a c^artgerous connexion, that would entail fljvery and oppreflion upon them and their pofterity. The fenate Were foon informed of thefe practices, and upon this occafion held a con- fultation; at which Xicotcncal's father gave his opinion, that his fon (hould fiifFer death, as a fowcr or fedition : but out of refpedt to the gray hairs and charafter of the father, they only ordered him to be brought before them in chains -, deprived him of all the honours he enjoyed, and caufed him to be thrown down the ftairs of the fenate-houfe. A few days after this degradation, Xicotencal implored forgivc- nefs of Cortes, who did not know of his crime till after the punilhment was inflifted -, and by his inter- pofition, was reftored to his former rank. Xicotencal now endeavoured to atone for his fault by his diligence in aflembling the troops of the re- public. Mean while the foldiers who came wirfi Narvacz, being difgufted at the fatigues and dangers they had undergone, and intimidated at the thoughts of a new war, loudly exclaimed againft the expedi- tion to Tepeaca ; and even delivered a formal protefta- tion to Cortes, fignifying their refufal to undertake that enterprize, and their defire to march immedi- ately for Vera Cruz, where they might be nearer at hand to follicit reinforcements from St. Domingo and Jamaica. Cortes was greatly provoked at this infolent remon- flrance; but thought proper to difguife his refent- ment ; and to reprefent to them, that as the Tepea- cans had feized the pafles of the mountains, it was impoffible for them to reach Vera Cruz without fight- ing them, in which he (liould be aHifted by the TlaC- . calan 320 " The Conqueft of M E X I C O, calan troops, that were aflembling for that purpofc : but he alfured them, that as loon as the Indians Ihould be fubdued, they who were unwilling to follow his fortune, fhould have free leave to de- part. ^ , . ... , Cortes having thus reconciled his troops to the fer- vice, marched with 8000 choice TIafcalans, com- manded by officers of diftinguiflied valour, and left the care of bringing up the reft to Xicotencal. Hav- ing proceeded three leagues, they fpent the night in a village abandoned by the enemy. The Tepeacans now took the field in order to ftop their march, and formed an ambufcade in fome fields of maize •, but being difcovered by Cortes, when at a confiderable diftance, they were foon thrown into confufion ; and being defcrted by their Mexican allies, were totally routed, with the lofs of almoft their whole army, They therefore the fame night fent deputies to im- plore the mercy of the conqueror. ., , ^ .^ The next day Cortes marched with his army into the city, where the inhabitants' threw themfelves at his feet. But upon his ordering his interpreters to proclaim king Charles, and a general pardon in the name of that prince, their apprehenfions were con- verted into joy ; and they entreated Cortes to take their city into his protedlion, that they might never more be influenced by the Mexicans to renounce their treaty with the Spaniards. Cortes inftantly took advantage of this requeft, fortified the city with palifadoes and a trench •, and built a kind of citadel to keep them in obedience, and fecure the paflage to Vera Cruz. But before this work was be- gun, he fent all the prifoners who had been taken in the battle, to Tlafcala -, where, by his direction, they were publickly fold for flaves. Quilavaca, emperor of Mexico, dying about this time, the eleftors conferred the imperial dignity upon Qiiatimozin, fon-in-law toMotezuma, a young prince of great fagacity i who immediately encouraged the Ibldicrs ty Hernando CORTES, sit frtldiers with rewards and confidcrable privileges ; treated his nobles with affability, and exempted his jcibjeds from all tribute during the continuance of the war. Cortes received an account of thefe tranfaflicns from fome deputies from the cacique of Guacachula, a populous and warlike city, fittiated rn the road to Mexico^ who came to complain of the tyranny of the Mexicans, and to implore the afliftance of the Spaniards againft them. As Cortes made no doubt of this cacique's fincerity, and thought it highly ne- ceffary to expel the enemy from fuch an important place, he immediately formed a body of 30,00© Tlafcalans, with 300 Spaniards, and 13 horfe, and the next morning fent this army with the envoys of Guacachuh, under the command of Chriftoval de Olid, who was dire<5led to repulfe the enemy, and take poflTefTion of the town. They were joined on their march by fome bodies of confederate Indians, who had been ill ufed by the Mexicans : and Cortes not long after arriving it the camp, proceeded with his neW allies diredtly towards Guacachula. The Mexicans being informed of his motions, advanced between him and the city, and began the battle with great fury •, when the cacique of Guacachula, tak- ing advantage of this opportunity, fell fuddenly upon the rear of the Mexicans, who in a little more than half an hour were entirely defeated. The Spa- niards then entered the city, where they took up their quarters, while the Tlafcalans and the other confederates, whofe number was continually encreaf- ing, (laid without the wall ; and many other caciques joining them) Cortes's army, foon after the battle, amounted to 1 20,oco men. — Cortes now relolved to reduce Y^ucafi, d town' ftaturally of great itrength ; fortified with walls and ravelins, defended in front by a river, and garrifoned with 1 0,000 Mexicans, who had broke down the bridge in order to difpute the paflfage, Notwith- VoL, I. y (landing jai The Conqucft of M ii X I C O, . (landing thefe difcouraging circumftances, the trcx^s gained the oppofuc bank, and drove the enemy into the city } which they made a fhew of defending : but the Spaniards had fcarcely received orders for the at- tack, when the city was forfaken by the garrifon and inhabitants. Some of the fugitives being brought back, were inftantly clifcharged, with the offer of a pardon and eood treatment to all who (hould return to their houks •, and this had fuch an effedt, that the town was almoil tilled the fame day. The fpoil ob- tained in both thefe adtions, Cortes diftributed among his new allies, and then returned with the Tlafcalans to Tepeaca, where the fort and fettlement was now compleated ; to which he gave the name of Segura de la Frontera. A fbip arrived about this time at St. Juan deUlua, with thirteen Spaniih foldiers, feme provifions and ammunition, and two horfes, fcnt by Diego de Ve- lafquez to Narvaez ; under the command of Pedro de Barba. He landed without didrufV^ and was con^ duded to Vera Cruz, where he readily embraced Cortes*s intereft, and received the command of a company of crofs-bows. Eight days after a fecond (hip arrived with eight foldiers more, with arms and ammunition -, the officer who commanded this veflel, and his man alfo entered into the fervice of Cortes. 'i ' As the general was refolved to make a new attempt to conquer Mexico, he formed the fcheme of build- ing 1 2 or 1 3 brigantines that (hould be able to refi(t the Indian canoes, in order to efcape the danger of pafTing the caufeways : and thefe he propofed to carry in pieces on the Ihoulders of the Indian carriers, over the mountains of Tlafcala, to a river in the neigh- bourhood of the lake. This Xmgular project he com- municated to Martin Lopez, who net only approved of the defign, but undertook to execute it with the utmoft facility ; and was therefore immediately Tent to Tlafcala, with all the Spaniih carpenters, and a number of Indians to cut wood. He at the fame time by HERNANDO CORtES. 323 time f mptoycd many hands in extraftins pitch from trees chat grew upon the mountains, and lent othert to the volcano bifore- men tinned, from whence they brought a large quantity of fulphur, which was made into gun-powder. Thefe previous fteps being taken, Cortes fct ,out for Tlafcala. It has been already obferved, that Francifco de Garay, governor of Jamaica, had fcnt to order Cortes not to make any fettlement on this coall. fiut not- withftanding thedilappointmcnt he met with in having his meflengers fcizcd, he now rcfumcd the entcrpiizc, and fent three fhips •, but his foldicrs had no fooner landed, than they were attacked with fuch fury, by the Indians, that they were obliged to return to thcif veflels in great diforder* His fliips were after v.rds feparated for fomc days, when each of rhem fcv rally formed the fame dcfign, and without knov ing the fcntiments of each other, arrived aimoP: at ^'\c fame inftant on the coaft of Vera Cruz, ?«i ordr- to ferve Under Cortes. The flrft ftiip that made land -^.d fixty Sp'anifh Ibldiers on board, and was comm. .ided by Captain CamargOi the fccond brought Pfty men, and Icven horfes, under the command of a b ivc and experienced officer, named Miguel Diaz de Cruz^ and the third brought above forty foldiers, ten horfes, and great plenty at arms and provifions, and Was com* manded by Captain Ramirez. Thefe people took the road to Tlafcala, and were received with joy by the general and his people : but notwithftanding this acquifition of ftrength, the foldiers brought by Narvaez, were ftill importunate for leave to return to the ifla • J of Cuba •, and re- minded Cortes of the promifc he had mac;e before they fet out on the expedition to Tepeaca. He was now the more inclined to o^ant their rcqueft, for his having received this reLitorcement of men, whom he imagined would be more obedient to his command* Cortes having diredled Alverado to fee thefe nncn embark, fent orders to the confederates to get ready Y 2 to 324 The Conqueft of MEXICO, to march on the firft notice, and in the mean time re- fblved to equip a veiTel, and fend other agents to Spain, in order to forward the negotiations of Porto- carrero, and Montejo, and to delire them to fend him an account of his intereil at court, about which he was very anxious. Cortes intrufted thefe difpatches to the care of Diego de Ordaz, and Alonzo de Mendoza, who a few days after embarked for Spain, after their having re- ceived private inftrudtions to conceal their com- niifllon, till they (hould find Cortes's father and the two agents, with whom they were to adl in concert. To give the greater weight to their joint foHicita- tions, they carried a fecond prcfent for his Majefty, which confided of gold and fome curiofities. He at the fame time difpatched Alonzo Davila, and Fran- cifco Alvarez Chico, with letters to the regulars of St. Jerome, who prefided in the royal audience of St. Domingo, and had jurifdidion over all the iOands, and new difcoveries on the main land ; intreating their fpeedy affiftance in promoting his fuccefs, and the interpofition of their authority in putting a flop to the proceedings of Velafquez and Garay ; and thefe fa- thers foon fent him a favourable anfwer. After a profperous voyage, Ordaz and Mendoza arrived at Seville, where they found the commifliofters of trade had exprefs orders from the bifhop of Burgos, to imprifon any one fent from New Spain, and to feize the gold and other merchandife brought from thence. Leaving the prefent therefore in the hands of thofe judges, they thought themfclves happy m efcaping with their letters and difpatches, and went in fearch of Martin Cortes, and the two agents, who had been before fent from Mexico, Thefe perfons they found at Medellin, and being afterward en-, couraged by Adriano the cardinal-regent, to whom they fiiewed Cortes's letters, entered a profecution againfl the bifhop of Burgos in his own court, and obtained a verdict in their favour. This fentence ♦•* • being. th( hi! an by HERNANDO CORTES. 325 being laid before the emperor, who at this time was juft returned from Germany, it was approved by his majefty, and Hernando Cortes was declared a faith- ful fubjed; perpetual filence was ordered to be im- pofed on Velafquez, with refpeft to any pretenfions to the conqueft of New Spain, and he was only al- lowed to fue for the money he had expended in fit- ting out Cortes's fleet. Several marks of the royal favour were bellowed on Martin Cortes, on account of his fon*s merit : fome regulars were named for the converfion of the Indians, and a fleet was ordered to be fpeedily fitted out, with a fupply of men, ammu- nition and horfes. ' Cortes in the mean time received another unex-» pedted fupply of thirteen Spanifh foldiers, who came in order to feek their fortunes, in a veflTcl that arrived at Vera Cruz. He therefore refolved to begin his march, and as the troops of his allies were already aflfembled, he did not choofe to wait till the brigan- tines were finifhed. This refolution being taken, Cortes reviewed the Spaniards, who amounted to 540 foldiers, with 40 horfe, and nine pieces of artillery, that were brought on Ihore from the flisips. This review was made with great bftentation, in order to raife the admiration of the Indians, an innumerable concourfe of whom were aflTembled to fee the fpedtacle. Xicotencal, at the head of 10,000 Tlafcalans, complimented Cortes, by appearing in his gayeft accoutrements, and performed the Indian exercife with equal pomp and agility. All his captains being adorned with variegated feathers, and jewels hanging at their ears and lips, they carried their two-handed fwords under the left arm, with the point upwards, and each was attended by a page who bore his Ihield, on which was reprefented in figures his^ own warlike atchievements. Cortes being fenfible of the difficulty of governing jin army compofed of many different nations, without ftrift d^fcipline i formed feveral articles of war to be Y 3 gbferved jj(^ : The Conqucft of M E X I C O, obferved on pain of death, and other penalties : which orders being interpreted to the commanders of the Indian troops, they behaved with the utmoft. regula- rity and circumfpeftion. The general having fettled thefe wife regulations, and every thing being ready for the march, he caufed the Spaniards to be drawn up, and then made a fpeech, in which he exhorted them to behave with complacency to the poor Indians, who had fo warmly efpouied their intereil •, and declared his intention to punifh offenders with all the rigour of military dif- cipline j reminded them of the honour they had al- ready acquired ; reprefentedthe harvtftof glory that lay before them, and protefted that he would upon all occafions reward fuperior merit to the utmoft of his ability and judgment. ' * > •f.ot' n. After this ipceqh, which was anfwered with loud acclaoiations, he, on the feafl: of Innocents, in the year 1520, put himfelf at the head of the army, which confifted '' 00,000 men, and proceeded with all pofTible precaution into the enemies country. Here being informed that the Mexicans were af^ fembled on the other fide of a mountain, in the road to Tezeuco, he halted all night in the open fields, making large fires on account of the weather. Early In the morning they began to afcend the mountain, which was overgrown with wood ; but having pro- ceeded about a league, they found the way blocked lip with trees, and fharp flakes fixed in the ftnd, in order to wound the horfes. However, thefe impe- diments were foon removed by a detachment of 2000 Tlafcalans, and fmall parties were detached to guard againft anibufcades. Having marched two leagues farther, they arrived at the Ibmmit of the mountain, from which they had a view of the great lake of Mexico, and law fires fuccefTively kindled in the diftant towns, as fignals of their approach. Conti- nuing iKeir march they got clear of the woods, and dcfcried the enemy's army at a great diflance. It fined \ 4 which of the regula- rs don s« ; cauf^ made a ve with warmly ntion to ary dif. had aU cry that upon all ft of his ich loud , in the c army, ded with country, were af^ the road :n fields, . Early lountain, ing pro- blocked fand, in fe impc- of 2 GOO to guard ) leagues mountain, lake of i in the Conti- ods, and ance. It fined by HERNANDO CORTES. 327 filled a large plain, through which ran a river col- lected from the neighbouring hills, and over it was laid a fmall wooden bridge, which was left as a de^ coy to the Spaniards, whom they intended to attack before they could form on the other fide-; but as Cortes advanced, their courage failed them, and they gradually retired from the pafs, till part of the Spa- niards had crofled the bridge, when 20 horfe, and a body of Tlafcalans being dc\ached to keep them in play, they fled with great p;ecipitation, and took ihelter among the rocks and mountains, whither Cortes did not think fit to purfue them. On his approach to Tczeuco, he was mef by (bmc ambafladors from Cacumazin, the cacique of that place, requesting admiflfion into the number of his allies, with many offers of fervice. Though from fome circumftances thefe profeflions were fufpedted, yet Cortes thought it prudent to aflent to his pro^ pofals. When he arrived at the town, he found the gates open, and the cacique, with moft of the inha- bitants, fled : for by his ambafiadors learning the ftrength C^^rtes had with him, he was afraid of exe- cuting a fcheme he had concerted of deftroying him in the night while he ilaid with him. Cortes was however waited on by the nobles, and a genteel youth, fon of the cacique's elder brother, whom he had murdered to ufurp his poflTeflions. Him Cortes invefl:ed with the fovereignty, to the general joy of the people, who returned and made an alliance with the Spaniards, declaring the Mexicans enemies. To facilitate his enterprize upon Mexico, and to employ his Indian allies, Cortes now refolved to ad- vance with part of his forces to the city of Iztapalapa, fituated fix leagues nearer Mexico, on the fide of the caufeway. He fet out on this expedition, with 300 Spaniards, and 10,000 Tlafcalans, leaving the mi- litary government of Tezeuco to Gonzalo de San- doval. But they no fooner came within fight of Izta- palapa, than they were oppofed by a body of 8000 y ij. Mexicans, 328 The Cbnqiicft o£ MEXICO, ^ Mexicans, who fought with great bravery, and t\l^^ retired into the city, where, without ftaying to defend the entrance, or (hut up the gates, they threw them- felvesjnto the lake, and fuddenly difappeared. Cortes, finding that the gates were left open, en- tered the city, the higher part of which wa$ entirely abandoned, and propofed to tgik.e up his quarters there for the night -, but it no fooner began to grow dark, |:han the Spaniards perceived the canals overflow, and the water of the lake rulhing with great inrjpetuofity from a number of fluices, which obliged them to quit the place in the greateft hurry to prevent the whole army being drowned. Cortes was extremely mortified at the fuccefs of jthis ftratagem, and fpent the night on a little rifing ground, where the troops fuffered by the wetnefs of their clo^ths and the coldnefs of the weather, and aj: day-break retreated towards Tezeuco, making his men march as faft as polfible, to keep them warm. But they had not advanced far, when feeing them- felves purfued by g yaft multitude of the enemy, they were obliged to face about in order to fuftain theip attack, which was very violent : the Mexicans, how- ever, being foon repulfed with confiderable lofs, the army refumed their march. While Cortes continued at Tezeuco, many of the neighbouring caciques came to enter into an alliance with him againll the emperor of Mexico •, and among others, deputies arrived in great haite from the pro- vinces of Chaico and Otumba, to folicit afliftance againft an army of Mexicans, tliat appeared upon the frontiers, in order to punifh them for having en- tered into an alliance with the Spaniards. Cortes re- folving to grant them imnicdiate afliftance, detached Gonzalo de Sandoval, and Francifco de Lugo, with 200 Spaniards, 15 horfe, and a body of Tlafcalans. fhefe were attacked in their march by a body of Mexicans, who lay in ambufcade •, but they were defeated witli much flaught^rr. Eight of the mofl: conil- by HERNANDO CORTES. y.^ |:ojifiderable perfons in the army were taken prifoners, after which the Spaniards paflTcd the night in the city of Chalco, where they were entertained with great hofpitality : and as the Chalquefe had long been at enmity with the Tlafcalans, the Spanilh captains feized this opportunity of propofing a peace between the two nations, which was afterward confirmed by the fenate of Tlafcala. Sandoval and Lugo, having thus happily termi- nated this expedition, returned to Tezeuco, when Cortes ordered the eight Mexican prifoners to be brought before him, and received them in the midll of his captains with a look of great feveriry. He told them that he would grant them both life and Jiberty, if they would promife him to inform their prince, that he was coming to demand fatisfaiStion for their perficiioufly attacking him in his retreat from Mexico, in direct oppolition to the treaty v^hich they themfelves had propoled and confirmed ; but prin- pipally to revenge Motezuma's death. He added, that his army being now augmented, he would in a lliort time feek the emperor in the midft of his court, and lay the city of Mexico in aflies, unlefs he would fue for a peace, which Ihould be granted on reafonable terms. He then ordered the prifoners to be un- chained, and to have a boat to carry them to Mexico by water-, at which they threw themfelves at his feet, and promifed not only to make the emperor ac- quainted with what he faid; but to ufe their utmoft endeavours to procure an accommodation. Martin Lopez about this time fent word to Cortes that the brigantines were finiflied, and that he would fpeedily fet forward with them, the republic of Tlaf- cala having provided 10,000 carriers, and 2000 to relieve thofe who (hould be tired, befides thofe ap- pointed to carry the provifions and ammunition : but that he thought it advifable to flay in the laft town of the Tlafcalans for a convoy of Spaniards, fince it would pot be fafe tQ pafs through the Mexi- can 3 JO The Conqueft of MEXICO, ' ' can territories with no other force than the Indian allies. This news filled the army with joy, and Cortes im- mediately gave orders to Sandoval to march with 200 Spaniards, 15 horfe, and fome companies of Tlaf- calans towards the territories of the republic, in order to condu^l Lopez with his materials to Tczeuco. This, officer accordingly fet out, but halted at Zale- peque, a fmall town that refufed to fubmit, and was the very place where the Spaniards were murdered in their way from Vera Cruz to Mexico, for which reafon he had orders to chaflife and reduce the inhabitants ; but they no fooner perceived the detachment than they fled to the mountains : when Sandoval entering the town, found written with charcoal upon a wall. In this houfe the unhappy Juan Jujiina was takeny with many others of his companions: and afterward they found in one of the temples the dried heads of the Spaniards. This dreadful fight filled the Spaniards with rage, and Sandoval refolved to punifh the inhabitants with the utmoft rigour. At this inftant feveral companies that had been detached in purfuit of the fugitives, returned with a great number of men, women, and children, after having killed upon the mountains all who refufed to furrender. Thefe poor creatures, half dead with fear, implored the mercy of the Spaniards by their tears and outcries, and foon moved them to compafilon. Sandoval privately defired the officers to intercede in their behalf, that they might fet the greater value upon their pardon, which he at length granted -, and received the fubmiffion of the cacique and principal citizens, who afterward ftridly adhered to the Spaniards. The remains of the murdered Spaniards being de- cently interred, Sandoval continued his march to the frontiers of Tlafcala, where Martin Lopez received him with joy. He had with him a young officer called Chichemccal, who commanded the Tlafcalan rein* by HERNANDO CORTES. 331 reinforcement, and bad been with difficulty perfuaded to wait for the Spani(h detachment, he being ex- tremely defirous of diftinguiihing himfelf againS the Mexicans. On their approaching Tczeuco, they were met by Cortes and the cacique of that city, and made their entrance into it, amidft the acclamations of the whole army, after which all the materials were feparately (lored in a large workhoufe prepared for that purpofe near the canals. Cortes, being informed that the veflels could not be finilhed in lefs than 20 days, refolved to engage in fome enterprize, and therefore leaving the govern- ment of Tczeuco to Sandoval, put himfeJf at the head of a detach mgit of 250 Spaniih infantry, 20 horfe, and a numerous body of the nobles of Tezeuco^ 15,000 Tlafcalans, under the command of Chiche- mecal, and about 5000 commanded by Xicotcncal ; with which force he fcoured the country between Tc- zeuco and Tacuba, the laft town on the lake between that place and Mexico. Cortes being fenfible of the difficulty of reducing Tacuba, returned to Tezeuco, where he had the (k- tisfaftion of learning that a veflel was arrived at Vera Cruz, laden with a great quantity of arms, and am- munition •, with a perfon on board named Julian de Alderete, who came in the charafter of the king's treafurer, and fome Spanilh foldiers of diftinftion, who inftantly marched to Tlafcala, where they obtained aa cfcort which conducted them to Tezeuco. The caciques of Chalco and Thumanalco fending meflengers to Cortes to defire his affiftance, againft a powerful army of Mexicans, he ordered Sandoval to march with a body of forces to their relief; who overcame them in three different engageirents. How- ever, the emperor ordered a new army to march, over whom the Chalqueies, after a defperate adion, ob- tained a compleat vi<5lory. Cortes now refolved to penetrate in perfon as far as Suchimilco, a towri upon the lake, with a broad caufe- way. 132 ' The Conqueft of MEXICO, ^ay, which joined thofe that led to Mexico, and this was a feafonablc relief to the Chalquefes, who had difcovcred a new army of Mexicans on that fide. The confederate caciques were already aflembled in the (city of Chalco, when Cortes unexpeftedly arrived, and filled the city with joy and gratitude. That ge- neral being then told by the Indian fcouts that the Mexicans had taken poflfefllon of fome almoft inaccef- fible mountains on tne road to Suchimilco, marched dire<5tly to a town which he found deferted by its in- habitants, and in which he fpent the night. He was much haraflfed by the enemy, and had feveral (kir- miflies with them by the way : but when he drew near the city, being joined by feveral bodies of the allies, he advanced toward the Mexicans who had halted without the walls, and fell upon them with fuch refolution as they were entering the gates, that he entered with the fugitives, and ordering fome companies to force the barricadoes in the ftreets on the right and left •, he advanced to the principal avenues, where the enemy had their greateli force. This he with fome difficulty furmounted, and rufhed forward into a multitude of the enemy, but inftantly finding himfelf furrounded, and his retreat cut off, he fup- pprted himfelf for fome time ; till his horfe falling, he was in extreme danger, and nothing faved him, but the great defire of the Mexicans to feize him alive for a prefent to the emperor ; but before they could carry him off, Chriftoval de Olea, a common foldier of diftinguiOied bravery, feeing his diftrefs, and call- ing to fome Tlafcalans, who were fighting near him, put himfe'f at their head, and forced his way to the place with fuch refolution, that he killed the Mexicans who had feized Cortes, and he having thus recovered his liberty, with only two flight wounds, pufhed the eneiTjy fo rigoroufiy, that they fled to that part of the city which was built in the water, and left tlie Spaniards majfters of all the ftreets upon the firm Ijind. ■ ■ • ■ T{i9 by HERNANDO CORTES. ^^ The troops without the gates were in the mean while warmly attacked by a body of 1 0,000 Mexi- cans, who fought for fome time with great obftinacy^ but were at length glad to return with confiderable lofs. '.' This fuccefs made Cortes mafter of all the ftreets and buildings on the firm land ; and having placed fufficient guards by the water fide, he ordered an officer and 20 or 30 foldiers to keep watch on the top of the principal temple. Near the clofe of the evening they difcoverecj about 2000 armed canoes advancing with great fpeed from Mexico, upon which the guards at the landing places were immediately doubled ; arrct in the morning about 1 5,000 of the enemy landed at a confiderable diftance from the city. Cortes im- mediately marched out and charged them with fuch impetuofity, that they were routed at the firft attack, and the whole adion appeared rather a chace than a vidlory. Cortes having continued four days at Suchimilco,' retired in good order, with the fatisfaftion of having accomplilhed the end of his expedition, by taking a view of that city, and weakening the force of the enemy : he was, however, inwardly diflatisfied at his having loft nine or ten Spaniards in this expedition. For befides thofe who were killed in attempting to fcale the mountains, three or four were taken alive, while they were pillaging one of the houfes at Suchi- milco ; and two of his fcrvants fell into an ambufcadcy by imprudently feparating from the army. Cortes had not been long returned to TezeucOy when one of his veteran foldiers requefted a private audience of him, with many indications of having; fomething of great moment to communicate ; which being granted, he gave him all the particulars of a* confpiracy that had been formed in his abfence. The chief contriver of this treacherous defign was a private foldier named Antonio de Villafana, who difliking the cnterprize againft Mexico, blamed the general for . hia his purfuit of chat conqued, accufmg him of obftinacy and rafhnefs. Finding that his fellow foldiers Kdened to his infinOatbns, he expreflfed a defire of relinquifh- ing the cnterprize, and returning to Cuba ^ but as it was impoflible to do this without Cortes's confent, he, after having fufHcicntly founded his confederates, pro- pofed to them a fcheme for aiTdflTinating the general and all his principal officers^ except Francifco Ver- dueo, who had married the filler or Diego Vclafquez, and upon him they propofcd to confer the chief com- mand, which would give a kind of fandtion to the mutiny, and be highly agreeable to the governor of Cuba : but as they knew Verdugo to be a man of honour, they durft not acquaint him with their de- The general having received this intelligence, went immediately with two alcaldes and feme of his cap- tains to Vlllafana's quarters, where he found him with three or four of his accomplices, and having put him in irons, and ordered every body to retire, while he examined him in private ; he took out of the wretch's bofom a paper figned by all the confpirators, in which he found fome names that greatly increafed his con- cern. But concealing the paper from his friends, he ordered the foldiers whc> were found with Villafana to be put into another priibn, and then withdrew, di- reding the officers of jutlice to proceed in his trial with all pofllble difpatch, without taking notice of any of his accomplices : and Villafana being con- demned to die, was the next morning feen hanging at the window of his own lodging, fo that his guilt and punilhment were made public at the fame time. Cortes pretended that Villafana had fwallowed a paper which he believed contained the names of the conljpi- rators J and then aflembling his captains and foldiers^ gave them a fummary account of the defign againft his life, and the lives of many prefent •, faid, that he thought himfclf happy in not knowing Villafana's accomplices, and eny^eatcvi Kis friends to inquire whe- {., 7 ther by HERNANDO CORTES. 335 ther the Spaniards had any complaint to make againfl: his proceedings } becaufe he was above all things de- firous of giving entire fatisfadlion to his foldiers, and was ready to correft his own faults. At the fame time he ordered the foldiers, who had been taken witK Villafana, to be fct at liberty, and behaved to the reft of the confpirators as ufual, fo that thinking him ig« norant of their crime, they afterwards ferved him with extraordinary circumfpeftion, in order to avert any fufpicion or their fidelity. He however feized this opportunity of having twelve men, commanded by an officer, to guard his perfon. Cortes was a few days after perplexed with another affair that gave him no fmall difturbance. Xicotencal having conceived feme difguft at Cortes, refolved to leave the army 1 and having aflembled fome com- panies of Tlalcalans who were attached to his intereft, retired in the night •, of which Cortes being informed, fent after him fome noble Indians of Tezeuco, to per- fuade him to return •, but Xicotencal's anfwcr fo pro- voked the general, that he difpatched three companies of Spaniards, with an additional force of Indians, with orders to take him prilbner, or to kill him in cafe of refiftance. As he defended himfelf to the laft, it was impradlicable to take him alive •, and he no fooner fell, than his foldiers, who fought with reluAance, readily fubmitted and returned to Tezeuco, leaving their general hanging on a tree. The brigantines being now ready, Cortes ordered them to be launciied and rigged, and then reviewed the Spaniards, who amounted to 900 men, near 200 of whom ufed fire-arms and crofs-bows, the reft were armed with fwords, bucklers, and lances : he had alfo 86 horfe, and 18 pieces of cannon, with a large quantity of ammunition. He then ordered, on board each veflel, 20 Spaniards under the command of a captain, with twelve rowers and one piece of artillery. . Cortes • 1 '53^ 'the Cohqiicl! of M E )C 1 1 d, Cortes rcfolving to take poflcfTion at the fame time of the three principal caulcwjiys : the expedition of Taciiba was intruftcd to Alveracio, who had 1 50 Spa- nidi foot, 30 horfe, 30,000 Tlafcalans, and two pieces of cannon. The attack of the caufeway called Iztapa- lapa was committed to Sandoval, who commanded 150 Spaniards, 14 hoHe, two pieces of artillery, and all the troops of Chalco, Choliila, and Guacocingo, amounting to aboVe 40,000 men i and the attempt upon Cuyocan, another of them, was afljgncd to De Olid, with 160 Spaniards, two pieces of cannon, and 30,000 confederate Indians. Alverado and Olid marched together as far as Ta- cuba, which was abandoned by the inhabitants, as were all the towns j.ipon the lake, who were gone to defend Mexico. The two Spanifh captains had no- tice that the Mexicans had formed a confiderable body within half a league of the city to cover the aquedudts that fupplied it with frefli water. Upon this intelli- gence they marched thither, and after a very obftinatc battle, drove the enemy from their poft, broke the aqueduds, and by this means effectually cut off their water. Olid then marched to Cuyocan the other caiifeway ; ' and Cortes having allowed Sandoval time to reach Iztapalapa, embarked with the cacique of Tezeuco and his brother, and took upon himfelf the command of the lake, after having left a fufficicnt number of troops to cover his place of arms, and fecure a com- munication with his quarters. His thirteen brigan-' tines being drawn up in a line, and adorned with flags and ftreaniers, he approached Mexico ; and then fail- ing back oblerved a pretty large caftle, fituated upon' a fmall ifland, wliich the enemy thought impregnable. Cortes landed here with 150 Spaniards, and drov6 the enemy, who made a brave defence, into the caftle,' where they were fo crowded, that having no room to' manage their arms, they were obliged to furrendef. The -.*«S^.3 '> V:= --v^ by HERNANDO CORTES. 337 The Spaniards then returned to their brigantines, in order to llccr towards Iztapalapa to afliit Sandoval, when they obferved a fleet of 4000 canoes afl^enibling on the lake. Co(^es drew up his vefllcls in the ibrm of an half-moon, and advanced toward the canoes, when a breeze of wind fuddenly fpringing up, they began to attack at a didance with the artillery, and then making ufe of their fails, ran in among the canoes with fuch force as over-fet all that ftood in their way, while their fire-arms and crofs-bows made a terrible (laughter. The nobles of Mexico, who had manned the 500 canoes in the front, made fomc oppofition \ but mod of thefe being deftroyed, the reft were thrown into fuch confufion, that they ran foul of each other, fo that the greateft part of them over-fet : when the brigantines purfuing tnc miferable remains of this fleet with their cannon fliot, forced them to take Ihelter in the canals of the city of Mexico. Cortes paflfed the night near Tezeuco, and in the morning was preparing to fail to Iztapalapa, when he difcovered a great number of canoes making toward Cuyocan ; and following them, found De Olid engaged on the caufeway with the enemy who defended it, and at the fame time with the canoes on each fide, againft each of whom being obliged to make a front, he was hardly able to keep the ground he had gained. The Mexicans had drawn up the bridges on the caufeways toward the city, and mounting on them in ranks, charged from the top. The Spaniards were obliged to clear thefe places of defence with their crofs-bows^ while fafcines were brought to fill the ditch -, but a piece of artillery being brought up, it foon cleared the paflages. De Olid had juflt made himlelf mafter of the firft ditch when the canoes arrived; but at the fight of the brigantines all the Mexicans fled with precipi- tation : and the canoes on the other fide, as foon as three brigantines had got through a wide paflTage, re- tired in diforder toward the city. , Vol. I. . Z . The ^38 the Conqueft of M E X I C O, The troop$ paiTcd the nishtupon the caufeway, and in the morning proceeded on their march with little or no oppoHtion, till they approached the lafl bridge, which they found fortified with (Irong works, and the irenches that were cut in the ftreets were defended by a vift multitude of people. The artillery from the brigantines made a dreadful flaughter of them, while Dc Olid having ruined the fortification of the caufe- way, and filled up the ditch, charged the Mexicans who had defended them ; and Cortes landing with 30 Spaniards, gave fuch life to the attack, that the enemy quickly turned their backs, and the chief ftreet of Mexico was gained. The fugitives, however, took pofTeflion of a temple near the entrance of the city, and from this poft they defied the Spaniards j but Ccrtes ordering three or four pieces of cannon to be landed, they were foon made fenfible of their danger, and all that part of the city was forfaken ; the next day Cortex' retired along the caufeway to Cuyocan, guarded on each fide by his brigantines, fo that the enemy durft not difturb his march. Cortes then proceeded to Iztapalapa, where he found Sandoval reduced to the laft extremity. He had taken poflfefllon of the buildings on the land, and had made great havock among thofe who approached in their canoes ; he had demolifhed fome houfes, and overthrown two or three reinforcements from Mexico fent to attack him by land : and that day the Indians having abandoned a large building, he refolved to feize it, in order to enlarge his quarters. This fcheme he eflTeded by forming a pafiage with fafcines ; but he had no fooner entered the houfe with fome of his people, than a great number of canoes which had lain in ambiilli, advanced with a multitude of Mexicans, who threw themfelves into t!ie water, and dragging away the fafcines, cut off his retreat, by which means he was befieged on all fKics. He was in this diftrefs when Cones arrived, and obferving the vaft number 7 dy HfiRNANfiO COftTES. 3^9 df canoes in the water ftrects, advftnced with all'^pbC- fible fpeed, and played his artillery with fuch fuccefs, that the enemy fled in great confufioh. The lofs of the Mexicans upon this occafion was very great. Cortes now refolved to quit the pofl: he was in, and to difpatch Sandoval to Tapeaquilla, where there wa4 another caufeway, the poflelflon whereof would effec- tually cut off the enemy's provifionsj of which they already began to be in want. Sandoval advancing, and finding the place forfaken^ lodged himfelf in it without refiftance. The general then failed to Tacuba to vifit Alveradoj who had met with various fuccefs: for though the place was deferted at his approach, he had, like De Olid, been obliged to beat down works, and to fill up ditches. Cortes now refolved to put a flop to all operations by land, till he had made himfelf mafter of the lake : for this purpofe he prevailed on the allied towns to fend a vail number of canoes manned by the moft ex- pert Indians, who with the brigantines failing conti- nually about the lake, and along the three caufeways, afforded them an opportunity of raking many canoes loaded with provifions and water, which reduced the befieged to great diflrefs. The Mexicans, however, gave him much trouble by their numbers and their devices to enfnare him j but at length his great guns cleared the lake of them^ In confequence of his becoming maftef of the navi- gation on the lake, Cortes found that the befieged began to want provifions ; he therefore exerted his litmoft diligence in cutting off all relief from the city : and in the mean time difmifled two Mexican noblemen with a meffage to the emperor Guatimozin with over- tures of peace^ The emperor was advifed to agree ta the general's propofal ; but this favourable difpofition was deftroyed by the remonftrances of the priefls : infomuch that Guatimozin himfelf declared, that to whatever diftrefs the city fhould be reduced, he would Z 2 put 540 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, put the firft man to death, who ihould frorn thenc^ forward mention peace. Cortes was no fooner informed of this, than he re- folvcd to carry fire and fword into the city j and for that purpofe lent orders to the commanders of the troops of Tacuba and.Tapeaquilla, while he himfelf marched by the caufeway of Cuyocan, at the head of the troops commanded by De Olid. All obftacles were foon removed, and the troops advanced without any confiderable oppofition to the lad bridge, where the Indians had broke down part of the cauleway to inlarge the ditch •, and on the oppofite bank they had raifed a fortification covered with planks : it was how- ever foon deftroyed by the artillery, and the enemy retired into the city. Thus the fliorc being left free, Cortes ordered his men to land immediately, and to take on Ihore the horfe and three pieces of cannon ; but before he advanced into the ftreets, he gave or- ders to Julian de Alderete to (lay behind, and fill up the ditch, wliile the brigantines were to approach the fcene of a(5lion by the great canals, and to fire upon the enemy. But Alderete no fooner heard them en- gaged, than thinking his employment dilhonourable, he rulhed forward to have a Ihare in the battle, leav- ing the care of filling up the ditch to another officer, who alfo abandoned it for the fame rcalbn. The Mexicans flood the firfl charge, and behaved with great bravery, doing the Spaniards confiderable da- mage from the windows and tops a' the houfcs. But fuddenly, in the heat of the engagement, they quit- ted the ground ; for Guatimozin being informed that the great ditch was abandoned, relblved to fall upon the Spaniards in their retreat. Cortes fufpedled their intent j and having barely time to return to his quarters before night, began his retreat, after having fet fire to feveral houfes from wliich he had fuilaincd fome damage. The Spaniards had fcarceJy begun to march back, before tiicy were attacked 1 by HERNANDO CORTES. 341- attacked on all fides by an incredible number of chofen warriors, who fought with fuch intrepidity, that they difregarded both the fire-arms and crofs* bows. Cortes being informed that the retreat was hindered by the ditch, endeavoured to form his bat- talions; but could not, becaufe the confederates being in the front, were the firft who arrived at the ditch, and had thrown themfelves into it with fuch confufion, that they were deftroycd by the Mexicans, who either wounded or drowned them. The general was now left with his people to maintain the fight ; when his horfe being killed under him. Captain Fran- cifco de Guzman alighted to give him his, and was taken prifoner, without a poflTibility of being refcued. At length, however, Cortes got to the brigantines, and returned to his quarters, wounded, and extremely mortified at his defeat; above 40 Spaniards being taken prifoners. Upwards of 1000 Tlafcalans were killed ; one piece of cannon was loft, and of the Spaniards fcarce one efcaped unwounded. The next day Guatimozin caufed a report to be fpread, that Cortes was killed. However, his allies foon recovered their fright, frcfh fuccours came in, and feveral nations tnat had hitherto continued neuter, being fenfible of the dlftrefs of Mexico, declared for the Spaniards. So that in a few days Cortes found himfelf at the head of above 200,000 men. The city was now in the greateft diftrefs for want of bread and water, which induced the general to proceed to adion, and as he had fufl^ered fo much in retreating, it was agreed that the commander of each body of Spaniards ihould endeavour to ftay in that part of the city into which he fliould penetrate. This plan being approved, Alverado and Sandoval began their march by day-break from Tacuba to Tapeaquilla : Cortes advanced from Cuyocan with a body of troops commanded by Olid ; while the bri- gantines and canoes were diftributed fo as to fupport the three attacks. All the difficulties were furmount- Z 3 cd 34« The Conqucft of MEXICO, ed as ufual ; ind the three captains entering the city much about the fame time, fortified themfelves with the ruins of the houfes. This new method of proceeding filled the Mexicans with coniiernation, and entirely oroke aU their mea- fures. A council was immediately fummoned at Guatimozin's palace ; where it was refolved to dlf- lodge the Spaniards, and their army being divided into three bodies, advanced to the attack at break of day. But preparations having been made for their reception, they no fooner approached, than the ar- tillery began to play upon the avenues, and made fuch a terrible flaughter of the van-guard, that they durft not proceed \ when the Spaniards rulhing upon them, they were foon routed and difperfed, by which means they obtained better quarters for the enfuing night. The Spaniards that continued were obliged, as they advanced, to deftroy houfes, level worlds, and fill up the trenches cut acrofs every ftreet •, and not- withltanding thefe obftrudions, all the three leaders in lefs than four days came in fight of the principal fquare in the city where they had agreed to meet. The enemy perceiving the whole force of the Spa- niards to be now united, ran with the utmoft preci- pitation to defend the perfon of their prince; by which means Cortes had an opportunity of lodging his troops to the bed advantage. The next morning all the ftreets in poflefiion of the enemy were filled with armed men, in order to cover thofe who were ^aifing a kind of fortification : but as they did not proceed to hofiilities, Cortes fufpended the attack he had meditated, and refolved to try once more whe^ jher they were difpofed to an accommodation, now they faw him fo advanta^eopfly ppfted^ He there- fore fent a meffage to Guatimozin^ who had retired with his minifters and the nobility to a fpacious anglp of the city, the grca^eft part pf which was defended \)y the lakp, b at by HERNANDO CORTES. 343 A furpenfion of arms being agreed upon, Guati- mozin held feveral councils, to deliberate on the ovcriures of peace ; and the majority were for agree- ing to the treaty ; while others were for continuing the war, who being joined by the priefts, it was rc- Iblved to profccute it. In the mean time the emperor gave orders that all the piraguas and canoes Ihould retire to a bay, in order to fecure his retreat in caf? he fliould be driven to extremities. Cortes imme- diately fulpeded their defign, and therefore appoint- ed Sandoval commander in chief of all the brigan- tines, with orders to furround the bay at a diftance, and to keep a ftridt watch upon the enemy's mo- tions. Cortes having taken thefe fteps, advanced with his troops *, which the Mexicans perceiving, prepared for an engagement. But they no fooner obierved the terrible havock made by the firft difcharge of the cannon on their wooden forciBcations, than they fent notice of it to Guatimozin, and in a little time de- manded a parley : upon which, four Mexicans, wh3 fcemed perfons of diftindlion, appeared on the farther fide of a ditch, and informed Cortes that they were appointed to receive his propofals ; but the general defired that the emperor himTelf would come to treat in perfon, and in the mean time a flop fhould be put to all ads of hoftility. With this anfwcr the ambaf- fadors retired, and word was brought that the em- Eeror would come the next day to conclude a treaty, ut he put off his coming for feveral days. However, the day being come, which was the utmoft period allowed by Cortes, Sandoval dis- covered, before the fun arofe, great multitudes em- barking on board the canoes in the bay ; and thefe attacked the brigantines with great fury, without being terrified at the havock made among them by the artillery. In the hottefl" part of the engagement Sandoval obferved' fix or fevjft piraguas rowing with the Jtmoft Z 4 fpeed 344 The Conqueft of M E X I C O, fpeed from the fartheft part of the bay, upon which he ordered a brigantine to give them chafe. The captain foon came up with the foremoft piragua, which fcemed to command the reft, when the Mexi- cans inftantly ceafed rowing, and dcfired him not to fire, becaufe the emperor was on board. The captain with other Spaniards immediately leaped into the piragua, to fecure their prize. Upon which Guati- mozin faid, " I am your prifoner, and ready to go " whither you think fit to condudt me. All the ta- " vour I have to ailc is, that fome regard may be " paid to the honour of the emprefs my confort, and " her female attendants." Guatimozin then pafling into the brigantine, gave bis hand to that princefs to help her up the fide. The captain had no fooner made Guatimozin prifoner, than he difpatched a canoe to Cortes with an account of his fuccefs ; and all mi- litary operations ceafed foon after. This great event happened on the 13th of Auguft, 1521, and from thence has been dated the dominion of the Spaniards over the Mexican empire. Cortes thinking it was ftill neceflary to reduce that part of the city which was in the enemy's pofleflion, left the care of his prifoners to Sandoval, and went out to give orders for another attack. But Guati- mozin fufpedting the caufe of his abrupt departure, defired to fpeak with him -, and upon his returning back, conjured him to fpare his unhappy fubjefts, who would furrender peaceably as foon as they were informed of his captivity. He therefore intreated Cortes to allow one of his minifters to accompany him, and command the Mexicans, in their princess nam.e, to obey the Spanifti general, which order they no fooner heard, than they 'Jirew down their arms and fubmitted. Cortes's troops no fooner took pofTciiion of the places evacuated by the Mexicans, than they found themlelves lurrounded with objects of horror ; a vaft number of millrable wretches, of the fick and wound- by HERNANDO CORTES, 345 cd, were lying calling upon death to releafe them from their tortures. Whole houfes, and courts, were Blied with the bodies of perfons of diftindtion who had been (lain in battle, and were kept till their funerals could be performed *, and from thefe places proceeded a flench that threatened the air with in- fedlion, and obliged Cortes to take immediate care to prevent a peftilence by giving orders for interring the bodies. While this neceffary office was perform- ed, he retired with his prifoners to Cuyocan, after his having affigned quarters to Alverado and Sando- val, who fuperintended the cleanfing of Mexico ; and this difagreeable duty being in a few days performed, he returned again to the city. ; : ' The refpeft with which the emperor Guatimozln was treated did not laft long, for the foldiers remem- bering the vaft quantities of gold they had formerly feen in Motezuma*s poflefTion, demanded an account of what was become of it. When Cortes protefting his ignorance, they fuggefted that he had fecretly ffCLired it for his own ufc. Hence they grew furious and infolent ; in which difpofition they were encou- raged by Julian tie Alderete the king's treafurer, who had great authority •, and being nephew to the bifliop of Burgos, was inclined to do Cortes all the mif- chief in his power. Alderete being unable to ob- tain any account of thefe treafures, demanded that the emperor and his firft minilter ihould be put into his hands, in order to be examined about them, which Cortes in his prefent circumdances did not care to refufe. This inhuman monfter, according to fome authors, caufed them to be immediately put upon the rack 5 but as others with greater truth affirm, had them extended upon burning coals. When they were both in this fituation, the minifter calling his eyes upon the emperor cried out violently ; upon which Guati- mozin with great ccmpofure faid, *' Do you think " I li^ here upon rofes?" At which the poor maa 54^ The Conqueft of MEXICO, man was fo ftruck, that he expired without uttering any further complaint : but Cortes, hearing his firS cries, burft into the apartment, and releafed the em- peror before it was too late; upon which occafion the foldiers themfelves approved his condudb, and blamed the treafurer^s barbarity. No difcovery was however made by this inftance of cruelty. They then fearched all the parts of the lake to no purpofe ; ranfacked the temples, in which they found but little gold ; and tore to pieces the tombs, in which a fmall quantity was founcf, which Cortes, in order to pacify them, divided amonsft them. Thofe provinces of the Mexican empire that were neareft the capital immediately fubmitted ; and Cor- tes having received intelligence of the kingdom of Mechoacan, which lay to the weflward of Mexico, he fent Montano with three other Spaniards as am- baffadors to the king, who at «irft gave them an in- different reception : but afterward treated them with great magnificence, and even went in perfon to fee Cortes; who foon after difpatchcd Chriilopher de Olid with an army to take pofleiTion of that country ; which he accordingly did, and forced the king to fly for Iheltcr into the mountains. ^ > Cortes upon this great flow of fuccefs, loft that humanity and virtue by which he had before diftin- guifhed himfelf ; difcovering the utmoft haughtinefs and cruelty. He eredled forts, and fent Sandbval to fubdue the countries near Tabafco and Teoountepee on the North fea, while he fent Dc Alverado with a body of Spaniards and confederate Indians, to take poi^feffion of the countries bordering on the vale of Guaxaca, to the eafhvard of Mexico. While Cortes was thus employed in reducing an gmazing extent of country to the obedience of Charles V. emperor and king of Spain, Chriftoval de Tapia arrived at Vera Cruz, with a commiflion from that prince to command all the new conquelts : but he wa$ fo threatened and terrified by the garrifon of Vera Cruz, jn pa de by HERNANPO CORTES. 347 Cruz, that he was glad to make his efcape, and leave the general in pofleffion d£ Mexico. Cortes now marched in perTon into the province of Panuco, which he not only reduced to fubjedtion, but had the inhumanity, in violation of the laws of nature and nations, to divide the country and all the Indian inhabiunts amoiigi^ the officers and foldiers, who treated them as flaves ^ and this was his pradice in every province,' whether the people voluntarily fub^ mitted to him» or were compelled to it by force : but he fent fuch rich prefents to the emperor, that not- withdanding his cruelty, he was declared captain- general and governor or New Spain \ and the gover- nors of Hifpaniola and Cqba were commanded to fend him fupplies, and to give him all poflTible afldf- tance. Cortes now finding himlelf eftablifhed in his com- mand, fet about rebuilding the city of Mexico ; afiGgn- ed places for erecting churches and public edifices ; laid out market places ; divided the beft part of the ground among the Spaniards, and the reft among the natives. All his conquefts could not however procure him a peaceable eftabliftiment. He was in danger from the intrigues of the Indians, who, from a love of li- berty, were defirous of recovering their country, and driving out or extirpating the Spaniards : and there- fore in 1527, he hanged the emperor Guatimozin, and two other Indian princes, whom he had deteded in a confpiracy againft him. Sometimes he was ex- pofed to danger, by his own countrymen ; Chriftoval de Olid, who had behaved fo gallantly in the war againfl the Mexicans, revolted from him ; but was foon taken off by a violent death. Several confpira- cies were formed to murder him : he had alfo mar.y enemies in Spain, who took fuch pains to prejudice the emperor Charles V. againft him, that he found it ncceflary to return thither, in order to juftify his con- du6l. # S4.S The Cottqiieft of M £ X I C O. ^ dufb. Accordingly in 1528, he uhdertook that voy- age, and was received by Charles V'. with great re- ipedt ; that prince gave him the whole vale ofAtrifco, with die towns and villages upon it •, conferred on him the title of Marquis of the vale of Guaxaca, and to compleat his favours, procured him a very ho- nourable marriage. The next year he returned to Mexico with his lady *, but afterward being involved in fome difputes with the viceroy of Mexico, he, in the year 1542, made a fecond voyage to Spain *, where he died in a village near Seville, called Callilleja de la Cuella, on the 2d of December, 1554, in the 63d year of his age ; after which his corpfe, by his own dire6liot)» was carried to New Spain. ^- ' , f .:» ■ f •» » « i ■ V;f '1 • - » . .0 , ' THE t 349 1 lat voy. ;rcat re- ■ t - • f - Acrifco, •rrcd on ruaxaca, irery ho- v'lth his difputes ir 1542, ied in a efta, on ir of his iredtion, 1 , , T H E .,:;:.. .■'^,- ' DISCOVER Y,; GOLDEN CASTILE.' AS we are now entering upon another curious, but afFedling narrative, the conqueft of Peru ; it will be neceflary to refume the account of the difco- veries and tranfaftions of the Spaniards, with which we introduced the conqueft of Mexico. Vafquez Nunez de Balboa, having eftabliftied him- felf in the government of Santa Maria, as has been already related ; immediately contrived to make the beft ufe of the great power he had obtained, in order to extend the difcoveries, and acquire more gold : this he forefaw would prove the only effedlual means of fecuring a continuance in that elevation, to which he had in lb extraordinary a manner rifen. ' ■"---- His firft care was to fecure the needful fupplies for the colony ; and for this purpofe he fent his friend Valdivia to Hifpaniola, to prevail on the governor and council to furnifh him and his people with all they wanted : and fent his collegue Zamudio diredVly to Spain to inform the court of their fituation, and of the great probability there was of their being able to make confiderable difcoveries and conquefts. He gave Valdivia IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A /^ 1.0 11.25 WUu U 11.6 Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSM (716)873-4503 -W jSO tril tilSCbVERY OF' Valdivia a confiderable quarttky of gold, which he defired him to prdent to the king's treafurer-general at St. Domingo, who had k great interefl: with the Spanifh miniftry* At this time many Indians, under pretence of traf- ficking with the Spaniards, reforted to Darien to ob- ferve whether they were going away, or what were their defigns *, and to induc< them to be gone, per- fuaded them that there was much gold and plenty of provifions in the province of Coyba, which was at 30 leagues diftance. Upon this Nunez de Balboa fent FraQcis Pizarro with fix men to difcover the country ; who having travelled three leagues up the river, were attacked by 400 Indians : but after a fhorc engage- ment, in which about 100 of the Indians were kil- led, the reft were put to flight, and the Spaniards returned to Darien. Nunez now fent two brigantines for the Spaniards who had been left at Nombre de Dios. Thcfe veffels failing along the coaft, reached a port belonging to the cacique of Coyba, where two Spaniards entirely nak^d and painted red came to them. Thcfe and ano^er perfon had a year and a half before made their efcape from Nicuefla's (hip, to avoid the punifli- m^nt due for fome crime they had committed -, and putting themfelves into the hands of the cacique Carcta, were kindly treated : but not iagreeing among lihemfelves, one of them, whofe name was Juan Alonzo, djRigeroufly wounded the other *, whereupon sh^ cacique admiring him for his bravery, made him ^omm^der of his K>rces, in a war in which he was then engaged, and would do nothing without his ^dvice. ' '' '":' Thefe two men were highly acceptable to thofe in xh^ bfdgantines : they obferved that the country abounded in gold ; and that if Nunez^ would invade JK, they Ihould all obtain great riches. Upon this advice it was agreed, that one of them fhould go to S^nta Mcria, to inform Nunez of the ftate of the country. GOLDEN CASTILE. 35% country, and that the other fhould (by to be fer^ viceable as occafion fhould offer. When the brigantines returned to Santa Maria, Nunez was much pleafed with the intelligence they brought of this rich country, at his having Spanifh interpreters, who underflood the language of the na- tives ; and having fent back the brigantines, to bring away the reft of the Spaniards from Nombre de Dios^ (as they had been unable to take them all before) he chofe 1 30 of the braveft of his men, who on the re- turn of the brigantines, fet out with a fufficient fup- ply of arms and provifions in fearch of the cacique Careta, who lived at 30 leagues diftance. This cacique not fupplying them, Nunez took him and his family prifoners, and pillaged his town. But the cacique, to regain his liberty, promifed all he required, and offered Nunez his daughter for a wife 5 who ac. cepted her, kept her as a miftrefs, and grew very fond of her. ■'' ''^ ' VM* •>!»; •••'».;i jv(/.u & ,i:>:r.'\ • Careta foon after informed his guefts, that he had a neighbour, whofe name, as well as that of his coun- try, was Comagre : that he lived in greater fplendor than any other cacique, and was very defirous of be- ing acquainted with tlie Spaniards. . As the domi> nions of this prince were large and fruitful, Careta derfired Nunez to pay him a vifit, and offered to ac* company him. On their arrival at the palace of Comagre, they found that it was a large wooden building, 1 50 yards^ in length, and 80 in breadth, furroimded with a good ftone wall. The reception they met with was equal- ly kind and hofpitable j Comagre and his fons dis- covering, in their converlation, a knowledge and po- litenefs, much fuperior to any of the Indians they had hitherto met with. ' -i Comagre*s eldeft fon, being particularly defirous of obliging his guefts, caufed fevcral pieces of gold,, that were valuable both for their workmanfhip and finenefs, to be brought i and this gold, which weigh- ed 352 THE DISCOVERY OF ed about 4.000 pieces of eight, with 70 flaves, he gave 10 Nunez and Colmenares, who immediately be- gan to weigh it, in order to fet apart the fifth of the gold for the king, and to divide the reft among themfelves : but fome of the men quarrelling about the belt and largcft pieces, the young prince ran to the fcales, and ftriking them with his double fill, threw all the gold upon the ground; faying, that they need not fall out about fuch a trifle : but if they were fo fond of it as to difturb peaceable nations, and leave their native country to obtain it, he would fhew them a province where they might have as much as their hearts could wi(h } but that there muft be a greater number of them, as they were to oppofe a monarch who defended his domitiions with great bravery. This was the firft intimation given them of the extcnfive country of Peru ;, Yfbith^er he offered to accompany them, - ' ' v * After a fhort ftay in the dominions of Comagre, Nunez de Balboa returned to his government of Santa Maria, in order to confider at his leifure of the pro- pereft means of making thefe important difcoveries. Valdivia had by this time returned from Hifpaniola, with the ftrongeft alTurances, that Diego Columbus would give him fufficient lupport. This induced Nunez to fend him over a fecond time •, but the vefTel, in attempting to fail back to Hifpaniola, was unfor- tunately fhipwrecked in her pafTage on the coaft of Yucatan, and the men were quickly furrounded and made prifoners by the natives, who cruelly facrificed them to their idols : two only efcaping, one of whom was that Aguilar, who was of fuch great ufe to Cortes. Nunez Balboa was greatly afBided at the news of this event 5 and to prevent the ill co^fequence that might arife from it, had fome thoughts of going to Spain ! but this the colony would not fuffer, and he had foon fufficient reafon to believe that they judged right I for by the difpatches he received from Zamu- dio he was informed, that Encifo had fo inccnfed the had. ^i."'>. GOLDEN CASTILE. 25i res, he :ely be- of the among I about ran to 3lc fift, g, that if they lationsy : would IS much uft be a ppofe a 1 great them of Fered to omagre, df Santa the pro- )veries. fpaniola, [uumbus induced le veflel, s unfor- coaft of ided and facrificed of whom 3 Cortes. ; news of ence that going to ', and he y judged n Zamu- inccnfed the the court againft him, that there was no perfuading the minifters, that he was not a villain, who had in the higheft degree trampled upon the royal autho- ; Nunez de Balboa, having confidered the contents of thele letters, plainly faw, diat nothing could re- ftore his charadler in Spain, but making immediate ufe of the informations he had received, by perfedt- ing his difcoveries of larger and richer countries than hitherto the Spaniards had been acquainted with. This he judged would cover all his paft faults, and atone for every irregularity he had committed ; and therefore, without communicating to the colony any of the particulars contained in his difpatches, he per- fuaded them to engage in fuch an expedition, as the moft likely means of rendering them all rich and happy : upon which they gladly embraced this pro- pofal. On this plan they failed from Santa Maria about the middle of September, 151:^, as far as the terri- tories of the cacique Careta, who received Nunez in a very friendly manner. He there left one of his brigantines and a canoe, and advanced toward the mountains belonging to Ponca, attended by a body of Careta's fubjeds. The cacique Ponca being foon informed of the approach of the Spaniards, hid him- felf 5 when Nunez fent fome of the Indians belong- ing to Careta- to affure him that he had nothing to fear, and that he only defired his friendfhip : upon which Ponca came to meet him with a prefent of gold, to the value of no pefos, which was all he had. Nunez being fenfible of the necefllty of leav- ing no enemy behind him, received the cacique with much joy ; and gave him abundance of beads, hawk's- bells, looking-glafles ; and what thefe Indians moft valued, fome iron axes : and then alked him for guides, and men to carry burdens up the moun- tains. Vol. I. \ A a ? . The 354 THE DISCOVERY OF The cacique readily granted all he defired ; and •Kaving fupplied him with plenty of provifions, the Spaniards marched into the dominions of the great lord named Quarequa, who was prepared to oppofe them. The Indians met the Spaniards, alking what they came for, and ordering them to proceed no farther •, but obferving that they paid little regard to what they faid, the cacique himfelf came forward, cloathed in cotton, with fome of his principal men, all the reft being entirely naked, and immediately attacked the Spaniards with dreadful cries. Nunez inftantly ordered his foldiers to difcharge their fire- locks and crofs-bows, upon which fome dropped down dead : when the Indians feeing the fire, and hearing the report, naturally concluded that the Spaniards ufed thunder and lightning, and had a fupernatural power to deftroy them -, and therefore fled in the ut- moft confternation. The Spaniards purfued, fetting their dogs upon them, which tore fome of them in pieces, while the Spaniards made a great flaughter with their fwords. In thii engagement the cacique himfelf was killed, with about 600 of his people ; fome were taken, and the town was plundered, in which the conquerors found a confiderable quantity of gold. : ' '^ '• ' As fome of the Spaniards were now grown fwkly with hunger and fatigue, Nunez left them in the town, which belonged to the late cacique, where he took frefh guides, and men to carry burdens, dif- miffing thofe who belonged to Careta. He then pro- ceeded toward the top of the mountains, which was at the dillance of about fix days journey ; but in this progrefs he fpent twenty-five, on account of the rug- gednefs of the way, and the difficulty of procuring provifions. At length Nunez' having notice given him, that they were near the fummit, he command- ed his men to halt, and going up alone faw the South Sea ; which he no fooner viewed, than falling on his knees, he returned thanks to heaven for being the • firft /. GOLDEN CASTILE. 355 firfl: who had feen it. This done, he called his men, and again falling on his knees, they followed his ex- ample, while the Indians ftood amazed at feeing fuch expreflions of joy and wonder. Nunez then extol- led the intelligence given him by Comagre's fon, promifing his men wealth and happinefs : they be- lieved all he faid y for he was extremely beloved, on account of '/s bravery, his compaffion for the fick and wounded, and his making no difference between himfelf and the meaneft foldier. He then caufed a certificate to be drawn of his taking poflellion of that fea, and every thing in it, for the crown of Caftile i in teftimony of which he cut down timber, created crofles, raifed heaps of (tones, and cut the king of Spain's name on fome of the trees. This being done, he rcfolved to go down the mountains to the fea coaft. On their reaching the fhore, the Spanifli comman- der marched on, armed as he was, till the water took him up to the middle -, and then caufed a notary to draw up an inftrument, importing that he had taken pofTeiTion of that fea, its coads, and the idands in it, in behalf of the crown of Caftile ; at which ceremony the Indians were very juftly amazed. Nunez Balboa at length obferving a large bay of the fea, refolved to navigate it ; and therefore defired the Indians to furnilh him with canoes, which they did, and offered to accompany him, though they at the fame time advifed him to fufpend this attempt, as the rains were coming on, and the bay was far from being fafe ; but he obftinately refufed to com- ply with this advice, and embarked with fourfcore Spaniards, together with Chiapes, a principal man among the Indians, and fome of his attendants, on board nine canoes. They weighed anchor on the 29th of September, for which reafon he called it St. Michael's Bay -, but when they were at fome diftance from the land, the waves began to fwell fo high, that Nunez repented A a 2 he 25^ THE DISCOVERY OF he had not taken the advice given him by Chiapes, and wa« foon in the utmoft danger of perilhing : but the Indians had recourfe to their ufual remedy, and faftening two canoes together with cords, to prevent their being fo eafiiy overfet, made the beft of their way toward an ifland, where they landed, and lalhed their canoes to tlie rocks or trees. There they con- tinued all the night in the utmoft uneafinefs •, for upon the .flood the whole ifland was covered with wa- ter, and they were obliged to ftand in it, almoft up to their wailts. When day appeared, and the water ebbed, they went in fearch of their canoes ; but found fome of them beaten in pieces, others almoft fplit, ^nd the reft fllled with, water and fand, and no part of their goods or provifions were to be found. In this diftrefs they pulled off the tender bark of the young trees, and bruifing it with grafs and other herbs, caulked the crannies of fuch of the canoes as were not ftaved, and thus embarked almoft famifti- cd with hunger. . They now fleered toward the dominions of a ca,- ciquc named Tumaco, which lay in a creek of the bay, where they found him ready to oppofe them. Nunez perceiving his men weak and hungry, no fooner landed, than he picked a few of the ableft of them, whom he placed in the front. The Spaniards began the engagement with their fwords and dogs, with which they made great havock i and Tumaco himfelf being wounded, the reft were obliged to re- tire. Soon after ( hiapes fent fome of his men to let; Tumaco know the power of the Spaniards, and the kindnels they fliewed to thofe who were their friends. The cacique, however, could not be perfuaded to believe their report j but a fecond melTenger pre- vailed fo far, that he fent his fon, whom Nunez en- tertained very courteoufly, giving him a fliirt and fome toys, and advifing him to perfuade his father to come himfflf, and have a fliare in his friendfliip. Upon which Tumaco wept, attended by many of his fubjcdts. a u GOLDEN CASTILE. 357 ig : but dy, and prevent of their d lafhed hey con- efs •, for with wa- Imoft up he water )Ut found loft fplit, d no part und. In k of the nd other le canoes ft familh- 1 of a ca- ek of the ofe them, ingry, no e ableft of Spaniards and dogSy i TumacQ ged to re- men to let s, and the nr friends, rfuaded to bnger pre- Nunez en- I fhirt and his father friendlhip. lany of his fubj^dts. fubjefls but carried no prefent. However, Nunez treated him with much refpcdl ; and Chiapes obferved to him, that he thought it but reafonable that he fhould aflift the Spaniards on account of their being ftrangers. The cacique being now pacified, and lofing all his apprehenfions, fent feme of his fervants home, who brought gold to the value of 6 1 4 pieces of eight ; and what was much more extraordinary, 240 fine large pearls, with many others, that were bright, though fmall. At this fight, Nunez and his men were filled with joy ; believing the immenfe treafures Comagre*s fon had mentioned were now at hand. The large pearls were of great value, and would have been of ftill greater, had not the Indians ufed fire in opening the oyfters, which rendered them not (6 white as they naturally are. Tumaco obferving that the pearls gave the Spaniards fuch joy, fhcwea that he himfelf fet but little value on them, by fending fome Indians to fifli, who within four days brought as many as weighed no lefs than 96 ounces. u t::^f ' Thefe two caciques afTured Nunez, that there was a country in that bay, about five leagues from thence, governed by a powerful cacique, where there was abundance of large oyllers, which contained pearls as big as beans. Upon which Nunez ordered the canoes to be immediately got ready •, but the caciques entreated him not to think of fuch an expedition at that time, but to ftay till fummer, when the fep was calm, and he might go with eafe, and then the) p:o- mifed to go with him. Nunez approving of th4S advice, Tumaco added, that the coaft extended a prodigious way, pointing to Peru : that thefe was an immenfe quantity of gold*, and that the natives ufed certain beads to carry their burdens, which were the fheep of that country -, he even made the reprc- fentation of them in clny. ' When Nunez returned to Santa Maria, which was about the middle of January, he judged^ with ^reat A a 3 appear- 25^ THE DISCOVERY OF appearance of rcafon, that the fignal fervices he had per- formed, rendered it impoflible for the minifters to cfeny that he had made amends for any indifcretions into which he had fallen. He therefore refolved to fend an- other agent to Spain with the king's money, and with more confiderable prefcnts than it was in his power to fend by the former : On this important meflage he fent Pedro Abolanchos, a perfon of capacity, and what was ftill of greater confcquence, of unlhaken integrity and fidelity. On this perfon's arrival at court, he applied him- felf to the famous bifhop of Burgos, who received his letters with civility •, which changed into the greateft kindnefs and friendfhip, upon his feeing the pearls and gold fent him by Nunez : for thefe fully convinced him of his innocence, and of his being a good and faithful officer. He therefore took great pains to vindicate him to king Ferdinand, who had hitherto a great averfion to Nunez de Balboa : but the favours of this prelate came too late i for he him- felf had already done this )yinhappy man fuch an in- jury, as he was unable to repair. It was a maxim with this bilhop, that nothing was fo dangerous, as fuffering the great men who made difcoveries in Ame- rica to perfedt them ; and therefore, as foon as they had opened the road to the new countries, and had overcome the firft, which are always the greateft dif- ficulties, it was his conftant method to fend fome of his own creatures to reap the fruits of their labours. .' Before the arrival of Nunez's agent, he had chofen Pedro Arias d' Avila governor of Caftillo del Oro -, whom the Spanifti writers, by joining his two firft names, commonly called Pedrarias. He was a man of birth, and of a court education ; but proud, haughty, infincere, barbarous and unjuft i cruel be- ypn4 expreffion : and one who thought the only com- penfation that could be made for leaving his native country, was his raifing a vaft. fortune. We have his ch^ai^cr drawn to the life, by the hand of the hu- '-.V mane GOLDEN CASTILE. 359 mane and worthy bifliop of Chiapa, who reprefents him as the wickcdell monltcr that was ever fent into thofe parts. .> r] This new governor failed from Spain, on the 12th of April 1514, with a fleet of fifteen fail i on board of which were 2000 foldierr,, a fryar, John dc Que- vedo, who, before his departure, had been confe- crated bifliop of Darien •, with many other perfons in great offices : amon^ whom was Encifo, the mortal enemy of Nunez, wno was Pedrarias's provoft mar- ihal. This fleet arrived in the gulph of Uraba, in the latter end of July» and from thence proceeded to Santa Maria, where the commander was received with all imaginary refpe£t by Nunez de Balboa. Pedrarias was very much furprized at the late go- vernor's appearance, and at the ftate in which he found the colony. There was indeed a very ftrong fort, and 450 brave fellows to defend it •, but Nunez's houfe confifted but of three rooms, and his drefs corre- fponded with his dwelling : he had a pair of canvafs drawers, and a cotton waiftcoat over his fliirt, and that was all. His diet was of a piece with the reft ; for a joint of roaft pork, fome greens and fruit, were all his table afforded : at which no other liquor was drank than good fpring water. Such were the man- ners of this conqueror, who fared no better than the meaneft of his Ibldiers ; but there was no murmur- ing, no complaints : he maintained his authority by the means he acquired it, that is, by his merit, while bis foldiers loved and feared him as a father. His only fault was his ambition, that had led him to do fome unwarrantable things, in order to obtain power ; but when he had once acquired it, none ufed it bet- ter. His accounts were cleat ; he made good' every point he had written to Spain, and proved that he had opened a pafTage to the South Seas : in return for which good fervices, Pedrarias committed him dole prifoncr to the cuftgdy of Encifo, and did not A a 4 fet 3^0 THE DISCOVERY OF fet him at liberty, till he had fined him in above half his fortune. i / 'n : ii..-..,,.; In order to juftify this proceeding, he fent over a very falfc report to the court of Spain, eypeding that this would have procured him authority for go- ing greater lengths ; but he was milbken. He had brought over forne honeft men with him, who ven- tured to fend the naked truth to court, and it met with all the credit it deferved. In anfwer to thefe reprefentarions, Pedrarias re- ceived frefh advices from his majefty, in which the king declared, that he was perfectly fatisfied with the condud of Nunez de Balboa, and had created him lord-lieutenant of the countries on the South Seas: that his majefty expelled that the governor ihould take his advice ; and that the mcafure of his obedi- ence to his royal orders would appear from the re- rpe6l he fliewed to Nunez de Balboa. Pedrarias equally difpleafcd and difappointed, took care to con- ceal his inftrudions; and, like a true courtier, re- folved in appearance to conform to his matter's or- ders, but in efFedl to difobey them, and to leave no means untried to procure the deftrudlion of the man he hated. In order to leflen the charafler of his predeceflbr and to raife his own, Pedrarias fent feveral of his of- ficers to make excurfions into the country, which he thought mult produce new difcoveries, as indeed they did ; but thefe were neither to the advantage of the colony, nor to the crown of Spain, fmce they only contributed to (hew the Lvarice and crvielty of the Spaniards in the moft glaring light. His officers knew that the only method to obtain his favour and prote(5tion, was to make him large prefents, and to plunder all the caciques without mercy -, fo that in a tew months time, that reputation for honefty and kind ufage, which Nunez de Ball)oa had been atfome pains to eftablifh, was entirely loft, and a War be- tween GOLDEN CASTILE. B^t tween them and the natives broke out afrcfli with greater fury than ever *, (o that there were no great hopes of his making any progrcfs : which when he came fcrioufly to confider, he entered upon a new fcheme ; and by the affiftance of bifliop Quevedo be* came reconciled to Nunez, who very fincerely applied himfelf as formerly to the public lervice, and that with his ufual fuccefs. This, however, only ferved to raife the envy of Pedrarias, even though he had promifcd to give Nu- nez his daughter, and publickly called and treated him as his fon. He had employed him in raifing a town, eftablilhingafort, and buildingfhipson the South Seas : all which, with incredible labour and fatigue, he at length accomplished •, and thi*: added to the great reputation he had before acquired. Pedrarias feeing this, and finding that moll of the people in this government were inclined to remove, and fettle in the town built by Nunez de Balboa, as foon as it fliould be finifhed ; refolved no longer to delay re- moving out of the way a man, whofe fuperiority be- came more and more confpicuous. For this purpofe he fent for him to Santa Maria, and commenced a frefti profecution againft him, on the fame pretences for which he had fined him before -, to which he had added another very extraordinary accufation, a trea- fonable intention to ufurp the king's domain, founded upon nothing more than his having cut down, with- out the governor's licence, fome timber for ercfling public edifices : and to the amazement of the colony, and the terror of the inhabitants, he upon this charge condemned him to fuflfcr death ; and adually caufcd this unfortunate gentleman to be publickly beheaded. Such was the fate of Vafquez Nunez de Balboa, who in the 42d year of his age-fuff^ered as a traitor for having ferved his prince with too much zeal and fidelity. This happened in the year 1517, and in the third of Pedrarias's government. The royal au- dience at St. Domingo, however, condemn'.d this 2 adion 3^2 THE DISCOVERY OF action as a downright murder ; but Pcdrarias does not feem to have been ever called to an account for It: but on the contrary was permitted to go on in the fame bafc and barbarous track for many years to- gether. Having thus, at the expence of law and juftice» freed himfclf from a man whom he at once both feared and hitted, Pedrarias refolved to fettle a co- lony on the coaft of the South Seas, though that .place, from the heat and moifture of the adjacent country, was very unwholfome -, but it was a place commodious for trade, and very convenient for form- ing new difcoveries. He there built a palace, and made it the feat of his government •, which inducing others to chufe it for the place of their rcfidence, it foon increafed in the number of its inhabitants, and was pretty well fortified. This city, which received the name of Panama, is but of fmall circumference, on account of a morafs that inclofes it on one fide ; and the damps, which arife from the morafs, render the place fo very un- healthy, that there are few inhabitants, except trad- ers, who generally ftay there no longer than is ne- ceflfary to acquire a a fufficient fortune to enable them to leave it. The rivers in its neighbourhood afibrd- ed great quantities of gold when the city was firft built ; but neither wheat nor barley grow within its neighbourhood : however it is fupplied with maize from Peru. Both the rivers and the fea abound with fifh ; and near the houfes along the ccaft are vaft quantities of cockles, on which account the Spaniards iuppofe Pedrarias chofe this fpot, as they would be fome fupply in time of fcarcity. In the rivers of this province are vaft numbers of alligators of a monllrous fize, which have devoured many of the Spaniards and Indians. But to return ; though Pedrarias had a ftrong de- fire to diftinguilh himl'elf by doing fomething great, yet in the fpace of eight or nine years he did little GOLDEN CASTILE. S^3 or nothing ; for his vices defeated his fchemes, and rendered all his undertakings abortive. But by the grievous extortions he committed among the caciques who had fubmitted to the Spaniards, and with the gold he forced from them, he maintained fo great an intereft at court ; that notwithftanding every enter- prize in which he engaged was attended with lofs, yet every new projedl he fent over was approved and applauded. ^ «..:r , ,.*„.....,..,> . „• This was the more extraordinary, as no man ever met with more oppofition than he did : for on the one hand, he was hated to the lad degree by the In- dians ; for whofe fake the bifhop of Chiapa had the humanity to go in perfon to Madrid to folicit relief. The Spanilh officers, who were uneafy under his go- vernment, fent home a true reprefentation of his con- duct •, which was fuch as would have ruined the for- tune of any other man. Bedde all this, he was upon very bad terms with the royal audience at St. Domingo ; which was then, what it ftill is, the fu- pr^me tribunal in the Weft Indies : and the chief reafon for removing the feat of his government from Santa Maria to Panama, was that he might be farther out of their reach. ., . v However, about the beginning of the year 152 5, the court of Spain, wearied with continual complaints againft him, was at length refolved to fend him a fuccefTor. Pedrarlas was informed of this refolution ; and as he knew no means of avoiding his coming, and was very loth to part with his power, he began to caft about in his mind where to find another eftab- lifhnvent. There was only one expedition under any of his creatures which had met wjch fuccefs ; and that was the conqueft of Nicaragua by Francis Her- nandez, who afted under his licence ; and the go- vernor had alfo been at fome expence in fitting him out. He refolved therefore to retire into this coun- try, in order to fecure it for himfelf, though it of ' ,- 4 "gJit 3^4 THE DISCOVERY OF, &c. right belonged to him who had lubdued it ; »id alfo to avoid delivering up his province to his fuccefTor in perfon, for fear he (hould treat him as he himfelf had done Nunez. One would have imagined, that when his affairs were in fuch a fituation, he would have abated fomewhat of his pride, or at leaft of his cruelty : but whether he had no power over his tem- per, or knew that he had ftill intereft enough at court to prevent his being called to an account for murder, he committed one more bafe and barbarous, if poiTible, than that of Nunez de Balboa. On his entering the new province, he pretended that he had received information that his deputy in- tended to revolt ; and therefore fent for him to an- fwer to the charge. Francis Hernandez came with that boldnefs which is natural to innocence ; but Pe- drarias no fooner had him in his power, than he caufed his head to be ftruck off-, alledging that there was no other way for a government to be fafe againft perfons in power, when their fidelity was once fuf- peded. Yet as black and heinous as this faft was, he not only efcaped being called to an account for it, but was confirmed in his government of Nicaragua ; as if avarice, injuftice and cruelty, were qualities chofen by the court of Spain in perfons appointed to the management and profecution of her concerns in America. :: : «■■'.«* -I':* . -'.ill . .1.- ■ i: '; m ■ 1. ' M THE [ 3^5 3 t ' THE i': Conqueft of PERU, "■' ■;■ „■■■' ^' ' ■ :. ■ _-[,,:^.:..y . /BY FRANCIS PIZARRO. VASQUEZ Nunez de Balboa was the firft Spa- niard who formed the project of making dif- coveries on the South Sea ; and the defire of wrefting the execution out of his hands, the principal motive that induced Pedrarias to take away his life. But when all the expeditions undertaken by this cruel monfter had failed, three perfons in the year 1524 offered to engage in this undertaking at their own expence, provided they might be allowed fair and equitable terms. To this propofal Pedrarias readily lirtened, believing that he ran no hazard in comply- ing with their requeft, fince if they mifcarried he Ihould lofe nothing ; and if they fucceeded, he hoped that he (hould be able to fecure to himfelf the fruits of their enterprize. The principal of thefe three perfons was Francis Pizarro, a native of Truxillo, in the province of EC* tremadura in Spain, Some of the Spanilh writers fay, he was a nobleman by birth \ while others main- tain, that he was the illegitimate fon of Gonzalo Pi- zarro, an officer at Truxillo, who fufFered him to be expofed as a foundling at a church-door. However, {)eing difcovcred to b? the father, he was obliged to fupport 366 The Conqneft of PERU, fupport him •, but giving him no manner of educa- tion, he made him fpend his youth in the moft fervile offices, pariicularly in keeping his hogs. Young Pizarro, however, at length ran away from the herd ; and entering on board a Ihip, bound to the Weft In- dies, he diftinguifhed hlmfclf by his bold and enter- prifmg difpofuion in the wars of Hifpaniola and Cuba, and obtained a commifTion. He at length failed with Ojeda to the gulph of Darien, and af;er- v/ard fervcd unclcr Nunez de Balboa ; and having acquired a handfome fortune, had, on the firfl: build- ing of Panama, fettled in that city ; where he feem^ cd difpofed to fpend the remainder of his life in peace, till the thirft of gold incited him to engage m this undertaking, and afterward prompted him to com- mit adidns that rendered him a difgrace to human namre. ' ' ' " The fecond of thefe adventurers was Diego de Al- magro, who took his name from the place of his birth : for Ills origin was fo obfcurc, that no hiftorian har, been able to difcover who was his father. The third was Ferdinando de Luques, or as he is fometimes called de I.ugne -, who, as well as both the former, was advanced in years. This man, who was a priefl", had much tiic largell fortune : he was pro- prietor of the ifland Tabago, had a good eftate be- iide, and a con fide rablcfum in ready money. This aflbciation made much noife, as nothing could be more fingular than for three private men to raif^ a joint ftock for conquering a great empire i and, like other projedls, was treated as a wild and vifion- ary fcheme, that would infallibly end in the ruin of the projedlors. But without regarding the opinions of the world, they folcmnly promifed each other, that no dangers ordifappointmentsfhould make them lay afide their enterprize ; and that they would make an equal divifion of the wealth they fhould acquire, after having firft dedu6led the emperor's dues and all cxpences. To each of them was afllgned a particu- lar by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 'i^^ lar part in the conqueft of Peru : Francis Pizarro was to command the party that went upon the difcovcry ; Almagro ./as to carry him recruits, and to reinforce him from time to time ; and Ferdinand de Luques was to (lay at Panama, to provide ammunition and provifions for the life of thofe engaged in the expe- dition. - ' ' • Thefe articles being agreed upon, they repaired folemnly to high mafs, which was celebrated by the prieft Fcrdinando de Luques \ who having broke the wafer into three pieces, took the firfl: himfelf, and gave the others to his comparuons, as a token that they would purfue their prefent project with no Icfs eagernefs, than if their eternal happinefs depended upon it. They took care to make the beft inquiries they could into the caufes of all former mifcarriages, in order the better to avoid them \ and were very afliduous in finding out perfons who had been era- ployed in the preceding expeditions, that they might reap the benefit of their experience. About the middle of November 1524, Pizarro embarked in a new (hip with 114 men, ofHcers in- cluded, and proceeded to the ifiand of Tabago, about five leagues dilVant from Panama •, whence he fail- ed to the Pearl Iflands in the midft of the bay, where he took in wood and water, with hay for four horfes he had on board. He then proceeding 100 leagues to the fouthward, landed at Port Pinas, upon the continent, on the fouth fide of the bay of Panama. Here he endeavoured to penetrate into the country ; but the people having Bed from their habitations, and meeting with nothing but bogs and mountains, without any profpedt of provifions, he proceeded far- ther down the coaft ; but finding there the fame in- conveniences, and perceiving the rainy feafon coming on, and that many of his men died by ficknels, fa- tigue, and want of provifions, he fent thelhip to the Ifle of I carls, to procure frclh fupplies. -, Mean 365 The Conqucft of PERU, ? Mean while Pizarro was joined by Almagro with two fhips and 60 recruits, when notwithftanding tbe unhealthmefs of the climate they continued on/ the coaft, and had many flcirmiihes with the natives -, in one of which Almagro loft an eye : but happening in fome of thefe excurfions to meet with gold to the value of 1 4 or 1 5000 crowns, they refolved, in fpite of all the hazards and difficulties they encountered, to proceed on the enterprize. To this they were encouraged by their pilot, who, while they were on fliore, had run down as far as Cape Paflare,^ under the equator, where he feized fome prifoners, who made him fenfible that the treafures of Peru greatly ^rpafled whatever had been reported of them. "When the pilot returned with this agreeable news, he found Pizarro greatly reduced j his money being exhaufted, his men fick, and Almagro gone to Pa* nama with the gold they had taken, to procure ano- ther reinforcement of troops, and provifions. Almagro raifed 40 recruits, and having purchafed Ibme horfe$, arms, clothes, provifions and medicines, returned to Pizarro, where the greateft part of his men being fick or dead, they removed from that un- healthy part of the continent to the iQand of Gallo. Having ftaid about 1 5 days here, they ran ftill fur- ther to the fouthward ; but found the weather conti- nue iq bad, and the country fo much under water, that Pizarro himielf began to defpair of fuccefs ; and fo hot was the difpute about continuing the enter- prifc, that the two commanders were on the point of drawing their fwords : but at length it was agreed, that they fhould return to the ifland of Gallo, where Piaarro was to remain with his men, till Almagro went to Panama for recruits. Many of the foldiers desired to go with him -, but this was jjibfolutely re- fufed : and as feveral of the foldiers had threatened to complain to the governor, that fending them on this expedition was devoting them to deftrudion, great was by FRANCIS PIZARRO. s6() great care was taken to prevent their fending any letters. However, oneof them found means to fen4 a paper fubfcribed by moft of them, reprcfenting their hardihips, and defiring to be recalled ; which was fo artfully inclofed in a bottom of cotton yarn, that it cfcaped the vigilance of the officers, and came ^afely to the hands of the new governor, (for Pedra- rias w^as now removed from his government, and was fucceeded by Pedro los Rios) who was fo far from fuffering Almagro to raife more recruits, that he feat a fhip with a commifTary to the iOand of Gallo tp bring back all the men who furvived. The arrival of this fhip greatly mortified Pizarro, who intreated the commiflary to allow fuch of the men to (lay with him as voluntarily chofe it ; which being granted, he drew a line with the point of his fword, and haranguing his men, told them they were all at liberty, if they thought fit, to return to Pana- ma : but he was grieved at the thought of their now abandoning fo glorious a profpeft, when they were on the point of reaping the reward of all their fuf- ferings. That for his part, he would perifh in the glorious undertaking rather than defert it •, and thofe who voluntarily ftaid, Ihould fhare with him the trea- fures which fell into his hands. He then defired thofe who were willing to proceed, to come over the line he had drawn. But fo great were the fufferings of thefe poor people, that only thirteen men and a mulatto came over, while the reft embarking with the commiflary returned to Panama. Pizarro's affair ^ were now in a moft wretched fitu- ation ; for he was not only deprived of the hopes of performing ur^y thing remarkable at prefent, but had a very indifferent profpe6t with refpedt to futurity. In this diftrefs, which he concealed in his own breaft, he retired with a few daring fellows, who refolved to follow his defperate fortune, to the illand of Gorgona for a fupply of water, and ftaid there till he was joined by Almagro with a few volunteers, whom Vol. I. B b . . he Z70 The Conqueft of PERU, 11 he had with fome difficulty pcrfuaded to engage in thrs expedition. With thtrfe men they left Gorgona, and failed along the coaft till they found themfeives in 30** fouth la- titude, having fpent about two years in a voyage which, no>y the current and trade-winds are known, is ptrtormed in as many weeks. In this paflage, however, they took feveral Indian veflels of con- fiderable value, and obtained fuch intelligence of the wealth of the coaft, that Pizarro refolved to fend Pe- dro de Candia, a man of good fenfe and agreeable addrefs, to penetrate as far as he could into Tumbez, in order to learn whether the informations he had re- ceived were true. ■ ' ' Pedro rendered himfelf agreeable to the Indians, and by his good conduft was enabled to execute his commiflion in the compleateft manner. He returned fafe to Pizarro ; aflured him that the country exceeded all imagination -, that the wealth and fplendour of the people, and the grandeur of their public edifices were incredible ; and that great art and fkill were vifible in thefe ftru6tures, which were fo rich, that the very walls were covered with gold and filver. Upon this report Pizarro called a council of his people ; when, after much deliberation, it was re- folved to return to Panama, where being enabled to give an account of the prodigious advantages to be reaped from an expedition made in a proper manner to Peru, it was to be hoped they fhould find people ■who we e willing to embark in fuch an advantageous "undertaking, and obtain fuch fupplies as would infure their fliccefs. ' However, failing a few leagues farther along the coaft, they made Payta, to which Pizarro gave the name of Santa Cruz ; and finding this one ot the beft harbours they had obferved on the coaft of Peru, they caft anchor ; and going aftiore, found the natives ex- tremely civil, and willing to take the trifles they had to give them, in exchange for provifigns. They weighed by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 371 treighed from this place, leaving a Spaniard named Alphonfo de Molina, who had feparated from them on (hore -, but who foon after returning, came on board in one of the floats of that country, and told them that he had been entertained with great civility by a woman of diftinftion, who was very defirous of feeing the ftiip. Soon after the fame woman fent other floats to pilot them into a fafe part of the harbour ; upon which Pizarro fent Molina, with three other gentle- men, to invite this Peruvian lady on board \ and Ihc comings he treated her in the moll elegant manner his circumftances would admit. In return Ihe invited Pizarro on Ihore •, and the next morning, at his land- ing, received him with a great retinue, and condudled him and his attendants to an arbour ; where flie en- tertained him at dinner, and afterward with fcveral Indian diverflons. '• • - > • •;>•'* The Spaniards returning on board, failed back for Panama, where he arrived toward the end of the year 1527, with feveral large pieces of gold, three Indian boys whom he intended to educate for interpreters, and fome Peruvian flieep. Thofe who had before ridiculed this expedition as abfurd and ruinous, now confefled their error, and were defirous of partaking of its advantages ; but Pizarro being oppofed by the governor, who refufed to allow his levying more men, and finding it neceflary that he fhould be fupported by an authority fuperior to his own ; he, with the confent of his partners, embarked for Old Spain to folicit the emperor*s protection, and fuch powers as were nccefl^ary for the profecution of their Ichemes. •■• >i'-^v ;'» -••:^.:.--. -.■■■; ^ . Arriving without any remarkable accident at Se- ville, Pizarro proceeded to the court of the emperor Charles V. where he met with a very gracious re- ception, on his prefenting his nrjajefty with fome Pe- ruvians in their proper habits, feveral gold and filver veflels of the fafliion of the country, and two or three Peruvian flieep. The emperor took great pleafure B b 2 ia 372 The Conqucft of P E R U, in hearing him relate the difficulties he had met with in his fcarch for Peru, and referred him to the council of the Indies ; who ordered him to proceed in the conqucft of that empire, as far as 200 leagues to the fouthward of Tumbez, which is at the bottom of the bay of Guiaqiiil. He alio obtained the titles of go- vernor and captain-general, with the offices of ade- lantado, or lieutenant, and of alguazil-major or chief juftice of Peru, 'i'his was diredly contrary to his agreement with his partners ; he having promifed to obtain the fecond of thefe titles for Almagro, and the laft for his pilot, who had ferved him with great fi- delity and (kill. However, he obtained for Ferdi- nando de Luques the title of proteflor-general of the Peruvians, with the emperor*s promife of recommend- ing him to the Pope, to be made bilhop of Tumbez ; of which place Almagro was however nominated go- vernor, with tlic title of Don j his bartard Ibn was le- gitimated; befidc, of the 13 men who remained with Pizarro in his diftrefs on the ifland of Gallo, thofc who were gentlemen, had the honour of knighthood, and fuch as were not, were railed to the rank of gentle- men. Thefe commiffions were granted at Toledo on the 26th of July 1528 ; and fix Dominican friars were ordered to go over with Pizarro, as miffionaries to affift in the converfion of the Peruvians : but though the emperor hoped to obtain confiderable advantages from this expedition, he did not advance a fingle piece of money for the fervice. Pizarro having thus fettled the affairs which brought him to Spain, paid a vifit to Truxillo, the place of his birth, where he found that his father had been many years married to a woman of a good family, and had three fons grown up to a man's ellate, Ferdinand,. Gonzalo, and Juan •, and that his mother had been married to a farmer, by whom fhe had a fon named Francis Martin de Alcantara : thefe entered into his fervice, and being greatly beloved in the neighbour- hood, made great dilpatch in providing whatever he wanteds by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 37^5 wanted. He embarked with them at Seville in the month of January 1530, and fafely arrived at Nombre dc Dios, on the coall of Terra Firma, from whence he marched with his people over land to the city of Panama •, where Almagro was fo dirgullcd at his hav- ing engroflTcd all the honour and authority to himfelf, that he refufed to afllft iiim in the intended expedi- tion, till Pizarro promilcd to rclinquifh the title of adelantado, and to give him an equal fliare in what- ever they (hould acquire. Upon which conceflions, Almagro agreed to alFift him as formerly ; but though he, for the prefent, fmothcred his refcntment, he never heartily forgave him. Three fliips being prepnred at Panama, on board of which were 125 foldiers, 37 horfes, with arms, ammunition, and Itores, Pizarro fet fail from thence % but meeting with contrary winds, he found it im- poflible to keep the fea, with his horfes on board, and therefore came to an anchor above 100 leagues to the northward of Tumbez, at a place which he called St. Matthew's Bay. He had here the inhumanity to attack the natives without the leaft provocation, and to make many of them prifoners, when the reft flying up into the country, he plundered their towns, in which he found immenfe treafures : for thefe people being honed themfelves had no fufpicion of the Spa- niards, and therefore took no care of hiding any thing from them. By this cruel condud: Pizarro foon became diftrefled for want of provifion, and lofing many of his men by ficknefs and hardlhips, he too late perceived his error, in not courting the friendfhip of the natives : , and b^ing in no condition to make a conqueft of Peru with the forces he had left, fent back his (hips to Panama to raife more recruits. He alfo fent to the fame place 30,000 pefoes in gold, with a great num- ber of emeralds. In the mean time Almagro fending Pizarro a con- fiderable reinforcement from Panama, and Ferdinand B b 3 de i74 The Conqueft of P E R U, dc Soto, and other adventurers, alfo arriving with troops from Nicaragua, he thought himfclf in a con- dition to carry on thenar upon the continent j efpc* cially as he had fomc reafjn to expedl that he ihould be fupported by the Tumbezcnes. Accordingly, having provided a fuflicienc number of floats, he tranfported his troops to Tumbez •, but loft fomc of his men on his landing, fome floats being overfct by the furf which beat upon the fliore i and to his great furpiizf, fcveral of his people were attacked and cut ofl by Jus fuppolt'd irientls. 'J he Spanilb writers have given different rcafons for this behaviour in^the 1 umbfzenes : But whatever Were the motives of their oppofing the defcent of thefc (Irangers, they were thrown into fuch confufion by the S| anifh horfe and artillery, that they fled as the Spaniards advanced i and after feveral thoufands of them had been flaughtered, were forced to abandon not only the city and caltle, but even the whole valley of 1 umi ez, and to leave behind them all their gold and fiber, and other rich fpoils which lay heaped up in the temple of the fun and the inca's palace. Thefe were of fuch immenfe value, that the Spaniards could fcarccly believe their eyes, on their .finding them lb fuddenly in their pofTcfTion : and lb great was the con- fternation of the inca Atabaliba and his whole court, Vfhen the fugitives related the flaughter made by the thundcrcrs, and the impoflfibility of efcaping the Spa- nifh horfcs ; that they concluded, if the Spaniards were not gods, as thty at firft conjedtured, they were certainly devils ; and that i; was impoflible for any human force to oppofc them. Pizarro foon received intelligence of the terror he had fpreaJ through the inca*s court, of which he re- folved to take advantage as foon as pofljble. He, however, thought prop/ r to defer his march, till he had eredcd a flight fort re fs, that might ferve him as a place of retreat and fecurity, and in which the re- cruits he cxpeded might be quartered. He accordr pgly built one upon the fea-coaft, and gave it the ' ' ' ' ' name by FRANCIS PIZARRO. zlH name of St. Michael j this was performed in the year 1531, and was the Hrd Spanilh colony planted in Peru. By this cftablifhment he plainly difcovcrcd his in- tention to remain in the country, which it was evident he could not do but by force j and th.Tcfore the news of his eredling a fortified town, and compelling the Indians who lived near it to obey not only him, but the meanelt of the Spaniards, loon fprca.l through the whole empire, and cnga[^' d the two brothers, who were contending for the thiono, to turn their ^yes upon thofe who might foon have the empire at their dilpofal. As the difputes between thefe two brothers proved the chief caufe that brought this great empire under fubjection to the Spaniards, fome account of the affairs of Peru is previoufly neceflary to render the tranra(flions of the Spaniards intelligible : the latter being infeparable from the former. • The inca or emperor Guayanacapa was a prince who diftinguiflied himfelf by his many virtues •, but being ambitious, and generally fuccefsful in war, made feveral confideraole additions to his dominions, and in particular fubdued the province of Quito. To confirm his high title to this province, he married the daughter of the late fovereign, and by her had a fon called Atahualpa or Atabaliba, to whom at his death he bequeathed the crown of Quito, on account of its being indepcfndent of the dominions of the incas, and its defcending to him in right of his mother. But Huefcar, Guayanacapa's elded Ton, who fucceeded to his father's hereditary dominions, infilled upon Ata- baliba*s furrendering the kingdom of Quito, pro- mifing, in return, to give him a Ihare of his father's treafures, and to affign him lands for his fubfiilence. Atabaliba refufed to confent to this propofal -, but offered to pay homage to his brother Huefcar for the crown. 4^ Both parties had recourfe to arms in confequence of this difpute \ and a general engagement enfued , B b 4 which ,.*»«»^' 37^ < The Conqueft of PERU, f which lafted for three days, and was as bloody as it was obftinate. At length the forces of Atabaliba were defeated, and he himfelf taken prifoner ; but while the guards were bufy with in the rejoicings and feftivals which followed the viftory, he found means to break a hole through the wall of the houfe where- in he was confined, by which he made his efcape ; and returned to his own fubjefts, whom he found dif- pirited by their laft defeat. He, however, foon re- vived their courage, by afiuring them that his father had appeared to him in prifon, and by changing him into a ferpent, had given him an opportunity of Hiding through a little hole in the wall. This ftory inftantly fpread through the whole em- pire : The people in general took up arms in his de* fence, and he had foon a much larger body of forces than ever. He now defeated two or three armies that oppofed him, levelled with the ground the place where he had been imprifoned ; and on his arrival at Tumbez attempted to make himfelf mafter of the ifland of Puna, but without fuccefs : when, leaving that ifland, he marched with all his forces to give Huefcar battle, who was advancing toward him with a prodigious army. Atabaliba hearing of his ap- Jjroach, fent two of his beft officers with 3 or 4000 light armed troops to obferve his brother's ftrength -, who, on their drawing near to Huefcar's camp, ftruck but of the high road to avoid being difcovered. Hu- efcar, at this very inftant, with fome of his chief Courtiers and principal officers, had retired into the fame bye road to Ihun the noife and buftle of his army ; when Atabaliba's men obferving the royal ftandard, laid hold of this opportunity of putting a Ipeedy end to the war •, and immediately attacking Huefcar, defeated his guards and made him prilbner. Thefe vigors were, however, foon in as much danger as the vanquifhed ; for Huefcar's army being informed of what had pafled, furrounded this handful of men, and threatened to cut them inftantly in pieces. In by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 377 In this extremity they told Hueicar, that if he did not immediately order his arrny to retire, they would cut off his head, after which they were determined to die upon the fpot. At the lame time they obferved, that he need be under no apprehenfion from his con- finement, fince all Atabaliba required, was the per- miflion to enjoy his own kingdom of Quito, which being fecured to him, he was too generous to detain him. On this Hueicar ordered his principal officers to draw off their forces to Cuzco, where the incas kept their court •, and this command was immediately obeyed. When Pizarro entered Peru, things were in the fi- tuation above defcribed. He was firft folicited to affift Huefcar-, but anfwered in general terms that he was on his march to affift the diftreffed, and fee jufticc impartially adminiftred. He was afterwards honoured with a folemn embaffy from Atabaliba, to defire his alliance and friendfhip. Upon which he immediately refolved to vifit that prince at Caxamalca, where he then was. The Spaniards were foon after met by other am- bafTadors, who came to compliment Pizarro, and to prefent him, in the name of the inca, with a pair of gold bulkins richly ornamented, and bracelets of the fame metal, fet with emeralds, which he was defired to put on, at his obtaining an audience of Atabaliba 5 who by ieeing his own prefents, would eafily know him. Thefe ambafladors alfo made him leveral other valuable prefents, and brought with them great plenty of provifions, which were much wanted by the army. The chief perfonage of this embafly was of the race of the incas, and behaved with great politenefs ; which the Spaniards attributed to fear, in which they were certainly right, though they did not ftand in awe of them fo much on account of their arms, as from a re- ligious motive j for they fuperftitioufly imagined that the Spaniards were the defcendants of the fun. They had an old tradition, which had been univerfally re- ' ccived. 57« The Conqucfl: of PERU, ccivcd, that the elder fon of one of their incas, who had lived many ages before, had feen a ftrange kind of phantom who called himfelf Virachoca, or offspring of the fun. His drefs and appearance were intirely different from that of the Peruvians, who have no beard, and whofe cloaths reach no lower than their knees ; but this phantom had a long beard, a garment of a very unufual make, which reached down to his feet, and he led in his hand an animal that was ab- folutely unknown to the young prince. This fable was fo univerfally believed, and fo firmly rooted in the minds of the Peruvians, that they no fooner faw a Spaniard with a beard, his legs covered, and hold- ing his horfe by the bridle, than they cried out, See^ there is the inca Virachoca^ or the fon of the fun. This opinion, joined to the diffenfions between the two brothers, greatly facilitated Pizarro's conquefts. The Spaniards on their arrival at Caxamalca, found that Atabaliba had retired to a place at a fmall dif- tance. Upon which the general font his brother Fer- dinand Fizarro and Ferdinand Soto in quality of am- bafiadors. . , . _ i-'^- '..i They were received with very great ceremony, and immediately introduced into the royal prefence, which Itruck the Spaniards with joy and reverence ; for not only the inca, but all who were with him, glittered with gold and jewels. When the ^»paniards approached Atabaliba, who was feated in a chair of maffy gold, they faluted him in the Spanifh fafhion, with which appearing well plea'fed, he arofe and embraced them : and a golden chair being brought for each, they fat and were ferved by two beautiful princeffes, in veffels of gold fet with emeralds. I hey had afierward a collation of fruit, which being over, Ferd nand Pizarro, by means of a wretched interpreter brought from Puna, made a long fpeech, in which he told the inca, that Francis Pi- zarro, a famous general, was come as ambaffador from the high prjeft of the Chrifti^n church, and from ,*.v.^- Charles by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 379 Charles V. the moft potent emperor upon earth, to deliver him and his fubjefts from the tyranny of the devil, and to point out to him the right road to heaven. To this the inca, they fuppofed, made a pathetic reply, as he drew tears from the eyes of thofe who underftood him ; and he concluded with telling them, that he >yould come the following day to hold a perfonal conference with their general. They could !Colle(5l but little from his difcourfe, and from the ab- furd manner, in which their interpreter explained what the inca had faid, they had reafon to believe that he had received a very imperfedt explanation of Fer-r dinand Pizarro's oration. Being informed of this intended vifit, Pizarro di- vided his cavalry, which amounted to 60 men, into three troops of 20 each, and pofted them behind an old wall, that their fudden appearance might have the greater effeO: ; and having put himfelf at the head of his infantry, which amounted to only 100 men, waited for the coming of Atabaliba, who advanced in re- gular order with his army, which was divided into four battalions confiding of 8000 men each ; and as foon as they drew near, the inca addrpffing himfelf to his officers, faid, " Thefe people are meflengers of ^' the gods, let us be ken to do nothing to offend •* them i but on the contrary ufe our utmoft endea- ** vours to gain theni by civilities." As he approached, father Vincent de Valverda ad- vanced from the Spaniards, carrying in one han4 a Grofs, and in the other his oreviary. At his appear- ance, the inca feemed much furprifed, but received him with great refpe(5l, and ordered a chair for him, when the father began a long difcourfe which was tranflated by the above wretched interpreter, while the inca liftened very attentively to his harangue, in which he gave an account of the myfteries of the Chriftian faith, the power of the pope, St. Peter's fuct eflbr, and the univerfal monarchy of the emperor Charles V. to which it was neceflary that the inca . . < fhould SSo The Conqueft of PERU, ihould fubmit, for otherwife God would harden his heart as he did Pharoah's, and then the Spaniards were to iqflift upon him all the plagues of Egypt. To the inca, who had never heard of thcfe fubjedls, this diflertation muft have had all the appearance of nonfenfe *, and was rendered ftill more ridiculous by being delivered through a channel fo defpicable and barbarous as Pizarro's interpreter. However, the inca made fome fort of reply, which was interpreted fo badly, that the prieft knew no more of the em- peror's meaning, than the emperor did of his. Thus 2 fcene of confufion immediately enfued, which was increafed by a tumult caufed by fome Spaniards, who obferving an Indian idol upon a tower, richly adorned with gold, filver, and precious ftones, their avarice would not fufFer them to wait longer, and therefore they fell to plundering it. They were at firft op- pofed by the Indians, till the inca, whofc com- mand was to them equal to a divine law, cried out. That they fhould do nothing to offend the children of the fun. Father Vincent hearing the noifc of this tumult, turned about, and dropping his crofs and breviary, ran in hafte to appeafe it, when fome of the perfi- dious Spaniards perceiving the crofs trampled under foot, cried out, " An infult on Chriftianity," and in- ftantly falling upon the Indians, committed a moft dreadful Daughter ; and the horfe fuddenly appearing, bore down all before them ; the poor Indians falling tame facrifices to their treachery, without making the leaft refinance. Francis Pizarro at this inftant putting feimfelf at the head of the horfe, advanced in perfon to feize Atabaliba, and laying hold of his robe, dragged the inca from the chariot in which he fat on the ftoulders of his attendants. At which inftant, one of the Spaniards attempting to ftrike the emperor with his fword, wounded Pizarro, which was all the Spanilh blood fpilt at this fcene of cool, mercilefs were inhumanly * maf- fiaughter. About 5000 Indians the by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 381 maflacred, without attempting to ufe the weapons they held in their hands •, for they thought every conv mand of the inca a part of their religion, and of the divine law, though it was attended with the lofs of their lives. Their principal attention was fixed upon their prince, and many of them died, while eagerly endeavouring to fupport his chariot, to which the inca clung, while the cruel and treacherous Pizarro drag- ged him from it. This happened on the 3d of May *533» a ^ay kept facred by the Romifli church, in honour of finding the crofs of Chrift, after its having been many years buried. ' When this horrid fcene was over, Pizarro caufed the inca to be conveyed to his own quarters, and di- reded that the Ipoils of the field lliould be brought before him, which confided of large gold and filver veflcls, fine garments, jewels and ornaments,, belong- ing to the inca, the royal family, and great officers. There were alfo taken many of the women of quality, and Ibme of the confecrated virgins. That very day Pizarro impioufly dire6led, that thankfgivings to God Ihould be offered upon the very fpot where the earth was covered with the dead bodies of the poor Peru- vians thus inhumanly murdered and plundered. The next day Pizarro fent a detachment of his forces to plunder the inca's camp ; where he met with an immenfe quantity of riches, though the Peruvian generals are faid to have removed 3000 loads of gold and filver before the Spaniards arrived there. To induce the Indians not to carry off or conceal any more of their treafures, Pizarro caufed it to be proclaimed^ that the inca was alive, and that they were at liberty to come and wait upon him as ufual. Upon which many of the generals and great oflicers returned to Caxamalca to attend their captive fovereign. He a)fo caufed the inca's women to be brought to him, and fufiered him to be ferved in the fame manner as before his misfortunes, though he kept him in fetters j I .SIC 382 f • The Conqueft of P E R U, at which the inca could not forbear fometimes fhewing his refentment. Atabaliba, ftill anxious for his liberty, and ob- ferving the infatiable thirft of the Spaniards after gold and filver, made them an offer of filling a large room in the caftle of Caxamalca with thefe metals, as high as an ordinary man could reach his hand : a propofal which amazed the Spaniards, and which they gladly accepted. For this purpofe he defired that fome Spa- nifh officers might be lent with his own people to Cuzco, and other cities, to fetch the treafures de- pofited there ; and at the fame time iflued his orders, that the Spaniards who were difpatched to thofe places Ihould be hofpitably entertained in the coun- tries through which they pafled, and receive all the affiftance his fubjedls could give them. Almagro, in the mean while, having inlifted 150 men at Panama, had embarked with them for Peru, in order to reinforce Pizarro, but had been obliged by contrary winds to land at Cape Francifco, where he was joined by another party of the Spaniards, who were going to (hare Pizarro's fortune. His whole body now amounted to between 2 and 300 •, but having loft by ficknefs and fatigue 30 or 40 of his men, he at length arrived at the Spanilh colony of St. Michael's, where he was informed that Pizarro had made the emperor Atabaliba prifoner, and had taken poflefTion of a vaft treafure. Fearing that he would refufe him his dividend, he confulted his officers, whether they fhould not proceed in quell of fome new difcovery independently of Pizarro : but a faithful account of this deliberation being privately difpatched to Pizarro, by Almagro's fecretary, he im- mediately fent feveral very obliging meflages to Al- magro to aflTure him of his integrity, and to invite him to join him : at the fame time he let him know, that there were fome people who endeavoured to (oy'T divifions between them, and intreated him to be on hi^ hi^ by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 385 his guard ; as that might end in the ruin of one or both of them, as well as the deftrudtion of their en- terprize. To fupport this advice, he fent him the letter he had received from the fccretary, which Al- magro no fooner faw, than he caufed him to be hanged. Atabaliba's folicitude about his liberty, was much increafed by the report of Almagro's arrival : for he wifely judged, that the infolence of the Spaniarda •would be augmented in proportion to their ftrength. He therefore haftened the brin'ging in the treafure he had offered for his ranfom, that he might obtain his liberty before Pizarro was joined by Almagro. But another accident happened about the fame time, which he apprehended might prove ftill more fatal to him ; for the Spanifh officers who were fent with his people to Cuzco, happening to pafs through the town, where Huefcar his brother was confined in pri-» fon, went to fee him, and told him what Atabaliba had offered for his ranfom. T hat prince replied, that he had been unjuftly depofed by his brother, who had no right either to the empire or the treafures he had promifed ; and that as he had heard one principal defign of their coming was to relieve the diftreflfed, he did not doubt but they would releafe him from his captivity, and reflore him to his throne, which he fhould not only gratefully acknowledge, but would give them more treafure than it was in the ufurper's power to bellow : for his loyal fubjedts having buried mofl of their gold and filver on his being made pri- foner, would readily produce it again, and pay it for his ranfom. . ^. Pizarro's mefTengers liftened to his overtures, and promifed the inca that juftice Ihould be done him ; but, however, left that prince in prifon, and con- tinued their journey to Cuzco. Mean while Ataba- liba, being inforn^ed of thefe overtures, refolved to put his brother to death : but refleifting that the Spa- niards might mal^e this a pretence for taking away his 2 own sH The Conqueft of PERU, own life, he refolved to found Pizarro's inclination upon the fubjedt j which he did by informing him, with the appearance of much affection and concern, that his brother had been murdered. But finding that PizarrO was not at all moved at this news, and only replied, that this was the fortune of war, and that the lives of captives were at the conqueror's dif- pofal, he difpatched an exprefs for putting Huefcar to death ; and his orders were immediately executed. ^ No fooner was the murder of Huefcar known, than the Peruvians made great lamentations, and cried to heaven for vengeance on his murderers. It is even faid, that fome defired the Spaniards to revenge it. Mean while the officers who were ient to Cuzco were, on their arrival there, adored by the people as the true defcendants of the fun : but they foon perceived that they ought to deduce their original from a bafer fountain. I'hey were afBided to find that fo pro- fligate a race of men, who trampled upon every thing they held facred, and whofe avarice feemed to exceed all bounds, Ihould become the mailers of their coun- try: and from that time they meditated how they might throw off the intolerable yoke they perceived the Spanij'ds were about to !ay upon them. They durft not, however, difobey the commands of Ata- baliba, but having amaffed a confiderable quantity of trcafure, they fent it to Caxamalca. t.i Pizarro being informed that great riches were lodged in the temple of the Invifible God, he dif- patched his three brothers thither with the Peruvian officers deputed by Atabaliba : but the priefts being informed, that fome of their temples had been ruined by the Spaniards, endeavoured to prevent their fuffer- ing the like misfortune, by fending away 400 carriers loaded with gold, filver, and jewels, before the Spa- niards arrived, which were either buried in the earth, or carried to fuch a diftance that the Spaniards could never difcover them. Ferdinand Pizarro, however, found as much plate in this temple, as amounted to 9000 by FRANCIS PIZARRO. sB^ 9000 crowns, befide what was embezzled by the loldiers. 8*'I 3^'^* By this time Almagro was advanced into the neigh-' bourhood of Caxamalca, Pizarro going out to meet him, received him with all pofTible marks of affeftion andefteem, and offered him fuch a (hare in the fpoils as made him perfectly eafy. fiut his foldiers, who expe<5ted to divide the booty with thofe who had ferved under i^izarro, were ready to mutiny on their being told, that they were intitled to no part of it. They were however foon appeafed by Pizarro agree- ing to diftribute 100,000 ducats among them. The reft of the plunder, after the emperor's fifth was de- dufted, was divided by Pizarro among his officers and foldiers ; and it is faid, that after he had referved the inca*s golden chair for his own ufe, he diftributed as much gold and filver plate among the foldiers, as amounted to above 1,500,000 crowns; which, con- fidering rhe value of gold and filver at that time, was more than 1 5,000,000 of crowns now. But as large as this fum appears in round numbers, it will yet be found more extraordinary and furprizing, if we con- fider among how fmall a number of men it was di- vided. It appears from good memoirs, that upon this divifion, each horfeman had to his ftiare near 2000 ounces of gold, and the meaneft foldier the va- lue of 2000 1. fterling, Ferdinand Pizarro was now chofen as the fitteft per- fon to go to Europe, and wait on the emperor Charles V. with his (hare of the treafure ; when about 60 of the private men infifted upon their di (charge, that they might go home, and peaceably enjoy the wealth they had obtained. This was violently oppofed by Almagro, and moft of the council : however, Francis Pizarro over-ruled this oppofition, by obferving that nothing could be more political than allowing them to return home ; for as the meaneft foldier would de- part fo very rich, they might be certain of gaining ten men for every one they loft. . . Vol. I, C c Before 586 The Conqurft of PERU, Before his departure, Ferdinand Pizarro went to take his leave of Atabaliba, with whom he was in greater ^fteem than any of the Spanifli officers. The cipperor therefore was much concerned at his depar- ture, and laid, '* My Lord, you are going home, *• which is certainly matter of joy to you, though it ** fills m^ with grief i for I already apprehend that ** before your return, the man with one eye, (mean- " ing Almagro,) and the other with the great belly, ** (which was the king's treafurer,) will put an end *' to my life : let us then take our laft farewcl.** •A Nor was his conjedlure ill founded, for the Spa- niards, who had been fent for the reft of Atabaliba's random, making a report of the prodigious quantities of the gold they had brought, and the reaibns they had for believing that much greater were concealed, Almagro gave it as his opinion, that they fhoiild wait no longer, but difpatch the inca, and then make a:> much hafte as polTible to get into their pofleflfion all the gold in Peru. A cruel refolution, which, though Francis Pizarro at firft feemed to rejeft with horror, he afterward gave it his approbation, on account of his being treated with fome degree of contempt by Atabaliba, and his giving a viJible preference to other officers in the Spanilh army ; the reafon of which is very fingular, and cannot fail of giving pleafure to the judicious reader. : , ,, v- :^i:: Atabaliba was a prince of great penetration, and therefore laboured to obtain as perfect a knowledge as pofTible of the manners, cuftoms, and abilities of the Spaniards, in order that he might be the better able to deal with them, if, upon the payment of the fum propofed for his ranfom, they (hould adlually re- ftore him to liberty. What particularly puzzled him, and feemed moft unaccountable, was their having, the art of writing and reading, he not being able to com- prehend whether it was a natural endowment, or was acquired by labour and application. In order to ob- tain fatisfadion, he alked one qf the Spanifh foldiefs, .;:,w2 , . «. • whether by PRANCfS PtiAtLKO, ij ^htthcr he could ej^prcfs the name of God upon lis thumb-nail ? the man readily afifwered that he couJi^, tfnd accofdingly wrote it ; after which the inca wc ic to fevefal of tne captains and foldiers, and fhewin^ them his thurtib-nail, afked if they knew what that mark fignificd ? and from their anfwers, began to en- tertain an opinion, that reading and writing were na- tural to the nation. Francis Pi:ia'rro falling in hi^ way, he afked him the fame queftion ; but he, whtf Was neither able to read or write, Wulhed, and turned! away without refolving the queAion ; which not only changed Atabaliba's opinion, with rcfpcdb to theltf accomplirtiments, which he now plainly faw were thd fruits of education ; but gave him a very low opinionr of the general, whofe original he was perfuaded muft have been but mean, fince he was in this refpedt ex- ceeded in knov^ledge by the poOreft of his foldiers. •'■ His contempt for Pizarro, however, laid the foun- dation of his ruin ; which Was compleated by the vil- lany of the wretched interpreter already mentioned j •who falling in love with one of Atabaliba's wives, that monarch was fo incenfed, that he let Pizarro know, that the fellow deferved to be put to death, which the general turned into j^ft. Upon this the interpreter refolved to be revenged, and accufed the inca of contriving the deftruCtiori of the Spaniards ^ when the general ordered that this wild and ridiculous llory fliould be digelted into a formal accufation. Commiflioners were appointed to try Atabaliba ; and the following charge was with great formality brought againft him : That the hte irica being his eldeft brother and lawful fovereign, and hiinfelf a baftard, he had caufed him to be depofed and imprifoned, and afterwards ufurped his throne : that he had caufed his faid brother to be murdered: that Atabaliba was an idolater : that he caufed his fubjefts to facrifice men and children : that he had raifed unjuft wars, and been guilty of the blood of many people : that he kept a great many Concubiile'S : that" he had eJcadted C c 2 taxes 388 The Conqueft of PERU, tSLxes and tribute of the Peruvians, fince the Spaniards >vere become in poiTefllon of his country, and had even confumcd and embezzled the public treafure ^ and that he had incited the Indians to rebel and make war againft the Spaniards fince he had been their prifoncr. Upon thefe abfurd and ridiculous articles, this fo- vereign prince was tried, in the midll of his own do- minions, by the invaders of his country : and what ilill adds to the abfurdity, he was tried, not by the laws of Peru, or by the law of nations cftablifhed by tny country *, but by thofe of Spain •, and being found fuilty, was condemned to be burnt alive. It ought owevcr to be obfcrved, in juftice to the reft of the Spaniards, that almoft all the principal perfons in the army declared againft this vile proceeding, and even delivered a proteft in writing againft it. Father Vincent, after being concerned in this mock (hew of juftice, undertook the inca's converfion ; and the argument he ufed to induce him to be baptized, was worthy of fuch a preacher. He promifed, that if he would die a Chriftian, inftead of being burned, he Jhould be only ftrangled, which had the defired eflfeft ; and to the eternal dilhonour of all who were concern- ed in this iniquitous proceeding, he was baptized in the evening, and ftrangled the -next morning. The events that followed the death of the Inca Atabaliba, plainly (hew that human nature is the fame in all countries and climates. Rumnavi, one of Ata* baliba's generals, who had retired from the bloody (laughter at Caxamalca, with the rear-guard of his army, feized upon the province of Quito, and no fooner heard of his fovereign's death, than he cut to pieces fuch of his officers as he believed firmly attached to his late mafter : while Quidquis, another of his generals, who had been Huefcar*s executioner, attempted, with a ftill larger army, to fecure part of the province of Cuzco. This attempt was fupported with fo little bravery, that he ded before a handful of by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 389 of Spaniards who were fent in purfuic of him •, but a few of thefe pufhing too far, and falling into his hands, he cauled them to be put to death. I'his general judly apprehending, that he could not upon his own intered and (Irength, maintain himfelf againft the other Indian commanders, as well as againft the Spaniards ; contrived to get into his power a younger brother of the inca, whofe name.was PauUu, whom he perf laded to take the title of emperor. This young prince difcovered a greatnefs or foul worthy of the higheft praife, and generoufly told Quifquis, that he fcorned to derive that authority from the mifery of the empire, which he could not hope for in better times, and efteemed it far more honourable to be thought a good man, than a bad monarch : which had luch an cfFe6l upon Quifquis, that though he had this prince in his power, he allowed him to retire. Whereupon he went to Francis Pi- zarro, and told him that the true heir of the empire was his eldefl: brother Manco Capac •, and that if, as he pretended, he propofed to do juftice, and to protect thofe who had right on their fide, he ought to declare in favour of that prince, who had already a good army, and who, with the afliftance of the Spaniards, would infallibly reftore the luftre of the imperial diadem. It would be difficult to conceive a country in a worfe fituation than Peru was now in, or a nation in greater diftra<5tion than its inhabitants. They were difpirited with fuperftitious fears of the Spaniards, which prevented their confidering their own ftrengsh : and on the other hand, were divided into different faftions, headed by different princes, at a time when union alone was abfolutely ncccfTary for their preferva- tion. Pizarro, after having gratified his refentment, thought fit to treat the corpfe of Atabaliba with the refpedt due to a fovereign prince. He celebrated his fimeral with great folemnity, and went into mourning for him j but he foon difcovered how deteftablc this C c 3 murder f: 29^ Thp Conqucft of PEHU, murder rcnderecj bim in the opinion of the native^. Xhe two factions inllantly united againft him under Manco Capac, the brother and heir of Huefcar, who was proclaimed inca at Cuzco. Upon which Pizarro proclaimed Toparpa, the fon of Atabaliba ; caufed him to wear the imperial coronet -, to be treated with the fame honours as his father ; and iJTued fuch orders in his name as were for the intereft of the Spaniards, This emperor, however, died foon after, when Pi- zarro imagining that riothing could eftablilh the do- minion of the Spaniards in Peru, more than his ob- taining poflefTion of Cuzco its capital, he began his march thither with all his forces, which confifted of near 400 men, befides fuch as were ftiled confederate Indians. Mean while Atauchi, brother to Atabaliba, having collefted a large quantity of treafure, to purchafe his brother's ranfom, brought it to Caxamalca : but find' ing Atabaliba murdered, and the Spaniards marched from thence, refolved to be revenged *, and joining his forces with fomc Peruvian generals, furprifed the Spaniards upon their march to Cuzco, killed fame of them, and took feveral prifoners. Among thefe pri- foners was Sanco de Cuellar, who had drawn up the procefs againft Atabaliba, and attended his execution* With thefe prifoners the Indian generals returned to Caxamalca, where they caufed Dc Cuellar to be ftrangled on the very fpot where the emperor was put to death. But being informed that fome of the other prifoners had proteited againft the inca's murder, they not only fpared their lives, but ordered the wounded to be cured, and difmifled them with confiderable prefents, on their figning the following articles. That all a(5ts of hoflility fhould be forgiven on both fides : that for tl)e future, peace fliould be inviolably maintained between the Peruvians and Spaniards : that the former fhould allow Manco Capac to afcend the throne of Peru : that fuch Indians as they held in chains (liould be fet at liberty : that for the future, . : . no by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 391 !io Peruvian (hould be loaded with fetters *, and that the Spaniards fhould not tr^at them as flaves, but as freemen, and be allowed to ei^tertaih Peruvians as hired fervants : that all the laws of their country fhould be inviolably obferved, which were not repug- nant to thofe of Chriftianity : and that thiis treaty fhould be ratified by the Spanilh general and his fo* vereign the emperor of Germany. The Spaniards infilled on having the free exercife of their religion ; on having lands afllgned them for their fubfiftance ; and free liberty of trade, without paying any taxes. All which were granted them. ,, , But reafonable and generous as thefe articles wdfe, Pizarro and Almagrd pofitively refufed to ratify them t and would hear nothing but an abfolute fubmiflion 01 their country and perfons to the will of the Spaniards. Continuing his march therefore toward Cuzco, he was again attacked at fortie difficult pafies in the mountains, by feveral parties of Peruvians : but finding themfelVes unable to refift their fire-arms and iiorfes^ they fied to the capital -, declaring that it wai in vain for any human force to oppofe the Spaniards, who were armed with thunder and lightning. The inhabitants of Cuzco, upon this, fled with their wives and children, and what was moft valuable to them, to the woods and mountains. Pizarro entered the city without oppofition, in Oftober, 1532', and though the citizens had time to carry off their goods, he met with immenfe treafure : and as it was the cuftom of the country to bury with their great men the belt part of the riches they poflefled, thefe conquerors, who made no difficulty of rifling fepulchres, found as much wealth in the tombs, as in the habitations of the living. 1 he plunder of the city has been com- puted to amouBt at leaft to the full value of Ataba- liba's ranfom. * " - ' - *^- .'- iji -Pizarro having now made himfelf rtiaftef of the ca- pital, thought fit to invite the inhabitants to return to their dwellings j as he juftly concluded, that if the %:*v.' • C c 4 people 39* ^Thc tonqucft of P E R U, d peope were rendered defperate, the whole power of the empire might affemble againft him. The Indi- ans accepted this invitation, and returned to their houfes ; and even the Inca made fome overtures, in- tin>ating that he would be content to embrace the Chriftian religion, and hold his dominions of the em- peror of Germany, provided that neither he nor his fubjefts fhould for the future be molefted either in their perfons or eftates. Pizarro giving him all pof- fible encouragement, he came in perfon to Cuzco, where he was proclaimed Inca, and invefted with that dignity in the fame manner as his i^redrcfflbrs ; Pi- zarro at the fame time agreeing to obferve the articles already mentioned. Thefe pacific meafures were in- deed become ■ necefTary, intelligence being received that all the fouthern provinces of Peru were aflem- bling againft them, in beh'alf of the inca Manco Ca- pac; and from Pizarro's knowing that Rumnavi, Qiiifquis, and other Peruvian generals, had taken EolTeflion of Quito, which had a little before obliged im to fend a confiderable detachment under the com- mand of Sebaftian Belancazar to reinforce the colony at St. Michael's, and to make head againft the Pe- ruvian generals in Quito. While Francis Pizarro and his officers were thus employed in the reduction of feveral provinces of the empire, they were fuddenly interrupted by an unex- pected invafion of their countrymen. Don Pedro dc Alverado, who had diftinguifhed himfelf with Cor- tes in the conqueft of Mexico, hearing of the vaft wealth obtained by thefe adventurers, was refolved to come in for a ftiare. As he was poffeffed of the province of Guatimala, he fitted out feveral ftiips, and landed at Puerto Vejo ; crolTed a part of the Andes near the equator; and was met in the valley of Riobamba by a large body of troops fent by Pi- zarro, under the command of Almagro, who had joined Belancazar. A battle now feemed almoft ine- vitable ; but a negotiation being entered into, and a private ment by FRANCIS PI2ARR0. ^3 private treaty figncd between them ; Alverado agreed CO return to his own government, in confideration of his being paid 100,000 pefoes of gold to defray the expence of fitting out his fleet ; and promifed never to attempt an invafion of Peru during the lives of Pizarro or Almagro. Things being thus amicably fettled, Alverado and Almagro joined their forces, in order to march to Cuzcd to procure Pizarro*s rati- fication of the treaty : but Pizarro, who chofe to pre- vent his arrival at that capital, met him by the way, and accommodated matters to their mutual fatisfac- tion. Alverado, after he had fufliciwitly refted and re- frtflied himfelf, took his leave of -the two generals, highly fatisfied both with the treatment he had met with, and the treafures he had acquired. Almagro then went back to Cuzco, while Pizarro (laid be- hind to fearch for a proper place for founding a new city •, which he at length built on the fea coaft on the banks of the little river Lima, in 12" 30', fouth la- titude, 120 miles weft of Cuzco. The firft ftonc was laid on the 6th of January, 1534.*, and from its being t'ic feaft of Epiphany, he called the town Villa de los Reyes, or the city of kings. This place is now the capital of Peru, and is known by the name of Lima. He then proceeded along the coaft of the South Sea to a place about 300 m les farther north, where he founded another city ; which, from the place of his birth, he called Truxillo. While Francis Pizarro was employed in building this laft city, he received advice, that his brother Ferdinand had in a great meafure fucceeded in his negotiation at the court of Spain •, having procured for him the title of Marquis de los Atabillos, with the revenues of that province, and a large increafe of territory, which was to be diftinguilhed by the name of New Caftile : that he had alfo obtained for Almagro the poft of marftial of Peru, and a govern- ment 200 leagues in extent to the fouthward of the v.,.,^ country 394 The Conqticft of PERU, country tfligded to the marquis Pizarro $ but that as to his demand of the vafislage of 20,000 Indians, the emperor refuied to crant it him^ till he was in* formed of the cui^omsof the country, and what con- fequences might proceed from it, when he would ihow him all the favour in that particular that was confident with juftice. As the aflillance of the Peruvians was (till necef- iary to the Spaniards, they endeavoured to keep fair with them, yet at the fame time awed them with troops in different places : they ftrengthened Belanca- zar at Quito, and a Iar£;e body marched to the north- eaft to reduce fome provinces bordering on the im- menfe ridge of moUiUains called the Andes -, and thus Ihewcd, that they were very far from intending to perform the agreement made with the Peruvians. Almagro having refolved upon his fouthern expe* dition, the inca Manco, in hopes of obliging the Spaniards, aflfiftcd him with 1 5,000 men, under the GOnduft of his brother Paullu, and Villachuma, or as he is called by the Spaniih hidorians, Villahoma. "With this body of men Almagro began his march in the year 1545, and proceeded fouthward as far as the province of Charcas ; which he Qightcd as not worth keeping, on account of its being a barren and inhofpitable country *, In this province Alma- gro was informed of two paffagcs into Chili, both cf them attended with extraordinary difficulty ; the one being through a hot fandy delart, where his peo- ple tnuft be prepared to eficounter the fevereft at- tacks of heat and thirft •, the other lying over prodi- gious mountains covered with fnow, fo craggy and fteep as fcarce to admit of being climbed, and fo in- tenfely cold as to be impaffable, except at one fea- iofi of the year. - v5....v,>^^ u-^ ■. ■ -; i.^.:^i ^..s * This ho.s^ hortfcviei!, fiiice f)r«iitdtfttf mod «aIoable of aM the Spaniik acc|uifuk>ns> as it contains the rkh mountains of Poitofi» fr©m whence more filver has been brought into Europe, than from any other mines hitherto dircDvered. • * ' 7 Almagro Ah road, portal chofe in fpi dians or by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 395 Almagro confidcring that the latter was the Ihorter road, and that cold) however (harp, was more fup- portable to European conftitutions than excelTive heat, chofe th^t paflage *, and perfifted in his refolution, in fpite of the reprefcntations of PauUu and the In- dians : but he had foon reafon to repent of his obfti* nacy > for his men being obliged to remove the fnow with their hands, made fhort journies, foon confumed their provifions, and were reduced to inconceivable diftrefles ; fo that he loft above 10,000 Peruvians, and 1 50 Spaniards, exclufive of fuch as efcaped with the lofs of their fingers and toes, though the Spa- niards were very warmly cloathed. They alfo loft all or the greateft part of their baggage. However, they, at length, after a tedious march of 600 miles, arrived in Copayapu, fubjed to the inca of Peru, where, through Paullu's influence, ihey were chear- fully entertained j and the inhabitants not only brought them plenty of provifions, but being in- formed of their love of gold, made them prefents to the amount of 5000 ducats. Almagro found Paullu's authority of great fervicc to him in his progrels -, for on his account he was re- ceived m many places with much cordiality, and op- pofed in few ; fo that he might eafily have eftabliflied colonics in very advantageous fituations, had riot a kind of infatuation directed all his views toward Cuzco, where he was refolved to rule : affirming, that according to the commiffion which he had received from the king of Spain, this city fell within his jurifdic- tion. This commifiion was brought him by Ruis Piaz and Juan de Herada, who joined him with re- cruits from Cuzco, after having palled the Cordil- leras, the road Almagro himfeif had taken; and which, as it was then fummer> he palTcd with very little fatigue. , . . ; < . Notwithftanding Almagro*s receiving thcfe re- cruits, he abandoned all his views upon Chili, and beg;an his march northward j. wheu his army being y , terrified 396 •^"* The Conqueft of P E R U, terrified at the remembrance of the diftreflcs they had endured in pafling the Cordilleras, abfolutely re- fufed to return by the fame road they came. Upon which he was obliged to take his rout through the dcfart, where he was told by the Indians, that there was no water, but what was to be met with in ftand- ing pools, corrupted by the heat of the fun •, and even thefe at eighteen or twenty miles diftancc from each other. To remedy thefe inconveniences, lea- thern bottles were made to carry the water, and par- ties of Indians difpatched before the army to drain the pits of that which was ftagnated, and leave the frelh at liberty to rife: expedients that were of vaft ufe, and that enabled them to pafs thefe barren tradts with much lefs difficulty than was at firft ima- gined. In the mean while, the Peruvians who marched with Almagro, grew difcontented at the ill ufage they met with from the Spaniards, and complained to each other of their barbarity. None had greater Ihare in thefe conferences than the interpreter fo often mentioned, who at length engage^ in a plot againft Almagro's life •, but refleding on the danger to which he was expofed, endeavoured to fecure himfelf by flight. He was however taken, and then informed againft the inca PauUu as being the principal perfon in the plot*, but this being inconfiftent with that prince's general behaviour, Almagro caufed the in- terpreter to be put to the torture, when he confefled the falfhood of his accufation, and at the fame time acknowleged, that by falfe fuggeftions he had con- tributed to take away the life of Atabaliba. On which accounts he fufFered an ignominious death. At this time affairs were in great confufion in Peru : the inca Manco had now loft all confidence in the Spaniards, and was fenfible of the injuries he re- ceived, and of the little hopes there were of his ever being reftored to the poflicffion of his throne and the fovercign power, as had been promifed by the i^ii . treaty treaty could thejuft pie, tl bafely fulfillec pofe h( leave tc leagues afTcmb laid of Cuzco, the firl clofely fiftcd < Francij and th( notice found ; was al! affairs, facilitai jefted t break 1 having magro before him, f tion m: The with a were o: horfe ^ gorous made being ^ three c by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 397 treaty of Caxamalca, that he refolvcd to try what could be done by force ; judging it better to rely upon the juflice of his caufe, and the afTiflance of his peo- ple, than upon the promifes of thofe who had fo bafely broke their words to his brother, and never fulfilled their engagements to hitnfelf. For this pur- pofe he prevailed on Ferdinand Pizarro to give him leave to go to a folcmn feftival held at Yucaya, four leagues from Cuzco ; which was in reality a kind of aflcmbly of the ftates of Peru, where a fcheme was laid of inftantly raifing three armies, and invefting Cuzco, Lima, and Truxillo at the fame time. With the firft he himfelf took the caftle of Cuzco, and clofely blocked up the city : the fecond, which con- fided of a good body of troops, marched againft Francis Pizarro, who was fent to the city of Lima 5 and the third was intended to aft againft Almagro, notice of which was fent to the high pricft, who found meani. to efcape from the army. Prince Paullu was alfo informed of the fituation of his brother's affairs, and what was expected from him in order to facilitate the conqueft of the invaders i but he re- jefled thefe propoi'als, and declared he would never break his faith with the Spaniards. The interpreter having difclofed this fecret with his laft breath, Al- magro declared Paullu emperor ; and though he had before refufed that title, yet he fuffered it to be given him, for the fake of his own fafety, and that his na- tion might not want a protestor. ^ The inca Manco ftill continued to befiege Cuzco with an army of 200,000 men ; but though there were only 70 Spaniards in the place, yet having fome horfe and a good train of artillery, they made a vi- gorous defence; and what is ftill more furprifing, made feveral fallies, in one of which Juan Pizarro being wounded in the head with a ftone, died about three days after, to the gieat regret of thofe of his party. " The • S9f The Conqucft of P E R U, The inca, hearing of Almagro's approachirtg CusJ- co, rcfoJved to retire ; and though Almagro endea- voured to nerfuade him to agree to a treaty, he ab- folutely rerufed it, being determined never more to hear of terms from a people who had hithe^rto kept none with him. He had alfo took a very furprifing ftep» which was dilbanding his army, and privately retiring to the mountains. His officers endeavoured to diffuade him from it, by obferving, that no time cotild ever promiie him greater fuccefs than this, in which Plzarro and AlmagrO were at open variance. In anfwer to which he replied, that notwithftanding their private animofities, they would certainly join againft him, fhould he make a (hew of Oppofing them V and that it was time enough for him to return and vindicate his right, when they were thoroughly weakened by their mutual contentions. It is furprizing that the Spaniards fhould have cho- fen this time for quarrelling among themfelves, and entering into a civil war. But Almagro having a confiderable body of troops under his command, re- foFved immediately to renew his old claim to Cuzco ; and in cafe he fliouTd make himfelf matter of that city, determined to render it the feat of his govern- ment. On his appearing before the walls, and find- ing tiie Indians drawn off, he fent a fummons to Don Ferdinand Pizarro, the Spanilh governor, to deliver up the city : to which he anfwered, that he held it by commifljon from his brother the marquis, and would not deliver it up without his orders, as he knew it to be within the limits of his brother's go- vernment. He immediately proceeded to put the place in a. pofture of defence •, but part of the gar- rifon being Almagro's friends, introduced his forces into the town at midnight, when Ferdinand and Gon- zaio Pizarro were made prifoners •, by which means Almagro became pofleffed of Cuzco, with little or no hlcodlhed, and molt of the garrifon entered into his pay. In news all the hadb fuch \ force dians In by FRANCIS PIZARRO., 399 In the mean time the marquis Pizarro hearing no news from his brother at Cuzcq, and concluding thaC all the parties he had fent thither to reinforce them had been cut off by the Peruvians •, refolvcd to fend iuch a body of troops thicher as Ihould be able to force their way in fpitc of all the oppofition the In- dians could make againd them. Having afTembled 500Q horfe and foot, he gave the command of this body to Don Alonao de Alverado, with orders to march with all polHble expedition } and under him appointed Pedro dc Lcrma captain of a troop of horfe, who being an older officer, was ix> difgufted, that he meditated the ruin of the enterprize. Alverado marched with fuch difpatch, that though he had prefled upwards cf 5000 Peruvians to carry th^ir baggage, moft of them perilhed in the firft part of tl>€ journey, by being overloaden, and driven be- yond their Ihength : upon which he halted, and prel^ fed iome thoufands more, to fupply the places of thofe he had loft. . [-/, y r ^. ■.:, :•, j Almagro having received intelligence that Don Alonzo Alverado was advancing, dii'patched fome Spaniards of diftindlion to reprefent to him that Cuz- co^ according to the emperor's divifion of Peru, was a part of his government, and to advife him to re- turn back to Lima, till the rnarquis and he fhould adjuft the limks of their refpeftive government : when Alve- rado, inftead of complying with this requeft, made thefe gentlemen prifoiKrrs. Upon this Almagro took the field, and furprifed a party of Alverado's horfe ; by whom he was informed, that great part of the troops were better afFecSted to him than to the mar-r quis of Pizarro, and that Pedro de Lerma with many of his friends, would defert upon the firft opportu- nity : he therefore advanced to the banks of a fmaU river, on the other fide of which Alverado was en- camped. They remained quiet, however, without endeavouring to attack each other the whole day ; but in the night Orgonez^ Almagro's lieutenant- general. 400 The Concjucft of P E R U, ^ general, forded the river at the head of the troops, threw Alverado*s forces into great confufion; and giving Pedro de Lerma, with the reft of Almagro** friends, an opportunity of joining him, gained an eafy victory, and took Alverado prifoncr, with whom he returned in triumph to Cuzco. Some of the prin- cipal commanders now advifed the conqueror to pro- vide for his future fecurity., by putting the Pizarros to death : but this he abiolutely refulcd, allcdging, that it was beneath a gentleman and a foldier to put people to death in cold blood ; and though he was prcned with great warmth to march with his vidori- ous army againft Lima, he would not agree to it, on account of his having no claim to that part of the country, ■'"'^^' ' ' > ' -=-•■••'•' ^ ■ - ' The marquis Pizarro was greatly affefted at the news of this defeat •, and finding himfelf too weak to make head againft Almagro, he fent deputies to Cuzco to propofe an accommodation. Almagro re- ceived them with great civility •, and promifed to have an interview with the marquis, in which commifli- oners fhould be chofen to fettle their refpeftive boun- daries. He accordingly marched out of Cuzco, at the head of above five hundred Spaniards, and took the road to Lima, carrying Ferdinand Pizarro with him as his prifoner, while Gonzalo Pizarro and Alve- rado were ieft in the city under the care of De Rojas; but after Almagro*s departure, they feizcd De Rojas, put him in irons, and made their efcape to Lima, accompanied by about 60 men, whom they had won over to their intereft. Upon receiving the news oi their efcape, Orgonez and bis partizans urged Alma- gro to revenge i& by the death of his prifoner Ferdi- nand ; but this he abfolutcly refufed, and foon after met the marquis at Mala, with twdve perfons'on each fide, in order to terminate their difputes. This conference was however fuddenly broke off" by one of Almagro's followers rulhing abruptly into his pre- fence, and crying out that he was betrayed j where- upon by FRANCIS PI2ARRO. 4or upon he inftantly took horfc and rode ofF, leaving matters entirely iinfettled. This alarm was caufed by the approach of Gon- zalo with 700 men. Upon which Orgonez alfo ad- vanced with his troops, in order to prevent the trea- chery he fufpecled to be in agitation. Each fide now feemed ready for war : but a treaty was concluded ; by which the poflefliort of Cuzco, with other advan- tages, was ceded to Almagro, till the emperor's de- cifion Ihould be known. In confequence of this treaty, Feldinand Pizarro was fet at liberty, upon his taking an oath not to a£t againft Almagro. The marquis Pizarro had no fooner obtained his brother's liberty, than he broke through the treaty ; fending a notary with witnefies to fummon Almagro to furrender Cuzco and all the places he had con- quered, on pain of being treated as a rebel. This method of proceeding was the more inexcufable, as he had juft before received an exprefs from court, by which each gover.ior was enjoined, under pain of the emperor's difplcafure, to keep quiet pofleflion of all fuch places as fhould own their refpeftive jurifdidion at the tin e of the meflenger's arrival : and in cafe they thought themfelves injured, they were direfted to appeal to the council of the Indies. But thefc orders he thought fit to fupprefs. Almagro, feeing how ungcneroufly he was treated, gave orders for defending Cuzco •, and marched with his troops to meet the marquis's army, which was advancing under the command of Gonzalo Pizarro : but after an engagement, which lafted two hours, Almagro was entirely defeated. He retired to the citadel of Cuzco, whither he was followed by Alve- rado, to whom he was foon obliged to furrender. Almagro was no fooner in the power of his ene- mies, than Ferdinand refolved to be revenged for his own and his brother's long- imprifonmenc, and effec- tually to prevent his making head againft the Pizarros for the future : therefore, after Almagro had been Vol. I. I> d &mc 402 The Conqucll of PERU, Ibme months confined in prilbn at Cuzco, the law- yers were employed to draw up articles againll him j the principal of which were, that he had feizcd the city of Cuzco •, entered into a fecret treaty with the inca i encroached upon the government granted to the marquis, and fought two battles againd the forces of his fovereign ; by which much Chriftian blood had been fpilt, and the progrcfs of the Spanilh arms greatly retarded. For thefe offences, Almagro being, tried by his enemies, was convidicd and condemned to die ; though he appealed to the emperor, and in very moving terms applied to Ferdinand Pizarro to fave his life. But the Pizarros were deaf to all his entreaties j and having caufed him to be ftrangled in prifon, they pri- vately ordered his head to be cut off on a fcaffold in the great fquare of Cuzco. The death of Almagro, though covered with a fliew of juftice, was fo highly refented by the Spa- niards, that inftead of extinguilhing, as was expedt- ed, it increafed his fadlion. Upon which Ferdinand rizarro, fufpefting from the behaviour of the fol- diers, that ibme dcfigns were carrying on againft his life, thought proper to follow Alverado to Spain, with all the gold he could colledl, in order to bribe the Spanifh miniftry. But Alverado having prepared the way for his reception, he was arretted and thrown into prifon as foon as he arrived ; and though Alve- rado died foon after, he was fufpeded to have been poifoned by Ferdinand to put a Hop to the profecu- rion ; yet the latter continued 23 years in confine- ment. The Peruvians now obferving the divifion which fubfifted among the Spanilh generals, had again re- courfe to arms -, and though the Spaniards in Peru loon amounted to above 2000, they found it more difficult to maintain their ground than at firfl:, when ihcy had not 400 : for the terror the Peruvians were under from the fire-arms and horfcs, which they had . \ ' . never by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 403 hevcr feen before, was in a great meafure worn off". Some of them even learned bow to ride and handle arms j and having taken fume horfes, were not afraid to make ufe of them againll thefe tyrants j and ic feems highly probable, that had not fome particular bodies of Imlians been fo infatuated as to adhere to the intereft of the Spaniards, difcover the ftron<^ paf- fes, and from time to time bring them both provi- fions and intelligence ; I'izarro would at laft: have been obliged to abandon his conquelts. The moft confiderable acquilition made after Al- magro*s death, was tlie conqucft of the province of Charcas, in which were the invaluable mines of Po- tofi i whole ticafures attracted fuch a multitude of adventurers, that the Peruvians were ac length com- pelled to fubmit, and become (laves to their imperi- ous mailers. This conqucft being finlflied, the marquis founded the town of La Plata, lb named from the (ilver mines-, and divided, not only the city and the country about it, but the Indian inhabitants among the conquerors. To his brother Ferdinand Pizarro, who was then con- fined in Spain, he allotted a large (hare ; and to his brother Gonzalo, I'aat part of the country in v/hich were the filver mines of Potoli. Ferdinand, as a ci- tizen of I.,a Plata, had alfo a fliare in thefe mines ; and,a particular part of the country being afllgned to his officers, they difcovered io rich a vem, that ti^ey are faid to have dug from it the tinell filvcr without any alloy. The marquis now found himfelf poflefled of an extent of country 7 or 800 leagues in length, from the equinoctial to the fouth part of the province of Charcas, in which were more rich mints than in all the world befide, and yet his ambition was not fatis- fied : but in an extreme old age he employed his brother Gonzalo, who was then governor of Quito, in the conqueft of other nations. D d 2 Gonzalo ! 404 The Conqueft of PERU, Gonzalo accordingly entered the province of Los Quitos J and after fubduing that country, where the people were downright barbarians when compared with thofe of Peru, he refolvcd to pafs the high mountains which bound that province on the north. For that purpofe he aflemblcd a confiderable number of Indians, and a good quantity of cattle ; but hav- ing afcended half way, the cold was fo intenfe, that he perceived it would be impoflible for him to profe- cute his march in that manner. Therefore leaving his cattle and the bed part of his baggage, he haftily defcended into the valley of Zumaque, which he found extremely fertile, and there refrefhed his forces for two months. ^ Gonzalo then endeavoured to continue his march northward ; but finding the way extremely rough and mountainous, he turned drreftly eaft, in hopes of meeting with an eafier pafTage. He entered into a rich and populous country, where the inhabitants •were filled with amazement and terror at feeing the Spaniards among them ; and indeed they had the greateft reafon : for thcfe pretended Chriftians be- haved toward them with the mod favage brutality. Gonzalo Pizarro himfelf is faid, even by lome Spanifh writers, to have given feveral of the natives to be eaten alive by his dogs. This inhuman treatment made them rife in arms againft thefe invaders, which obliged him to encamp •aixd ufe all the precautions neceflary in an enemy's country. But ar. length, finding no appearance of the riches he had been made to expe6l, he returned to Zumaque, much diflatisfied v/ith his expedition •, but refolved, neverthelcfs, not to return to Quito till he had made fome difcovery, that would render him as famous as his elder brother the marquis Pizarro. This refolution Gonzalo communicated to Francis Orellana, a gentleman of Truxillo, who came to join him in the valley of Zumaque : and having taken , ♦ .. -^ ' : " •" ' 100 by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 405 100 foldiers, and fome Indians for guides and to carry provifions, he marched dire<5tly to the eaft. But thcfe guides foon brought him into a country full of moun- tains, forefts, and torrents •, which pbliged him to make ways where he found none, and to open a paf- fage through the woods with hatchets. However after many days march, he pierced through as far as the province of Coca, where the cacique came to meet him, and offered him all the accommodations the country afforded. Gonzalo was highly pleafed with this reception ; and by the affiftance ot his guides entered into a converfation with the cacique, who let him know, that the country through which he had paffed was fo full of mountains, forefts and rivers, that he had taken the only paffage that could have brought him thither : but that, if he was willing to embark on the river he faw before him, or to follow it by land, he might affure himfclf, that he fhould reach the banks of another river, much larger than .his, where there was a plentiful country, whofe inhabi- tants were covered with plates of gold. The cacique could not havt mentioned a more alluring motive : Gonzalo's avarice was fired, and he immediately fent two of his guides with orders to the officers and foldiers he had left at Zumaque to come and join him immediately. Thefe or- ders they inftantly obeyed 5 and furmounting all the difficulties of^ the way, arrived much fatigued at the town of Coca, where Gonzalo made them ftay fpme days to refrefh themfelves. He after- ward proceeded along the banks of the river, which were extremely pleafant : but the fmoochnefs of the way did not laft long. It was foon interrupted by fmall rivers and uneven grounds -, and they were obliged to march 43 days without finding either provifions, fords, or canoes to enable them to pafs the river. By this long march they were much fa- tigued, when they were ftopped by a fight which ap- D d ^ pearcd 40^ The Conqucft of P E R U, pearcd very furprifing : the river grew narrow and confined between two rocks, at no more than 20 icct diftance fronn each other ; and the water rulhing with tapidity through this ftrait, precipitated itfelf into a valley, which lay 200 I'athoms below. Here Pizarro made that famous bridge for his troops to pafs over, which is fo much extolled by the Spanilh hiftorians ; but finding the way not at all the better on the other fide, and their provifions grow- ing daily more and more fcarce, he rcfolved to caufe a brigantine to be built, in order to carry by water all his fick men, provifions, baggage and gold. This being done with no fmall difficulty, Pizarro fent on board this veflel whatever had obftrudtled his march, with 50 foldiers, under the command of Fran- cis Orellana, who were fl:ridly ordered to keep up with them, and to come every night to the camp. This order he obferved very exaftly, till Gonzalo feeing all his men pinched with hunger, commanded him to go in fearch of provifions and cottages, where the Spaniards might meet with refrelhments. No fooner had Orellana received his orders, than he lanched out into the middle of the river, where the rapidity of the fl:ream carried him, as faft as he couldwifh*, for in three days he made above 100 leagues without the ufe of either fails or oars. The current of the river Coca, at length carried him into a much larger river, where the fliream was not near fo fwifr. He there ftaid a whole day to make his obfer- yation-, and perceiving that the farther he went down, the more the river widened, he had not the leaft doubt that this was the great river that had l^een fo often fought for : which filled him with fuch joy at his good fortune, that without paying the leaft re- gard to his duty to Gonzalo Pizarro, he thought of nothing but executing an enterprize he was then forming. For this purpofe he founded his men ; tel- ling them, that he afpired to a much higher dignity than could be obtained in the fervice of Pizarro ; that he mg t were \ by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 407 he owed every thing to himfelf and to his king -, and that his fortune having, as it were, led him by the hand, to the greateft and moft defirable difcovery that ever was made in the Indies, namely, the great river whereupon they were failing ; which coming out of Peru, and running from weft to eaft, was the fineft channel in the new world, through which they might pafs from the South Sea to the Atlantic Ocean : he could not, without betraying them all, and with- out ravilhing from them the fruits of their voyage and induftry, make others ftiare in a favour which heaven had rcferved for them alone. Thefe reprefentations had the defired effeft -, and infpired his men with a fhare of that ambition which fired his own breaft. His neceflities however fome- times forced him to land with his people to obtain provifions ; but as he did not take thefe with that prudence that became him in a ftrange country, the natives unanimoufly took up arms, and with great boldnefs fell upon the Spaniards ; who defended themfelves with much courage, and killed many of their ynr (onifts with their crofs-bows. Upon infpedt- ing tL' f')dies, they found that feveral of them were women 5 it being no uncommon thing in that country for the women to fight by the fides of their hulbandb. But Orellana being of a romantic turn, improved this flight hint into a- formal hiftory of a great nation of Amazons fettled upon this river : by which fable, he overturned his great defign of giving it his own name ; for from this ftory it received the name which it ftill bears, and will always bear, of The River of the Amazons. In the remaining part of his pafiage, Onillana took care to behave with more prudence and mild- nefs to the people he met with •, among whom were many genteel and even polite nations. In fine, he paflfed down the river to the fea •, and having coafted about a promontory, now called the North Cape, two hundred leagues from the ifland of Trinidada - J Dd 4 4o8 The Conqueft of PERU, he failed direftly thither, and there buying a fhip, re- turned to Spain, where he made fuch a report of the countries he had feen to the emperor Charles V. that hf obtained as ample a commiffion as he could defire. In the year 1549, he failed with three fhips for the river of the Amazons •, but this fecond expedition was the very reverfe of the firft, and was unfortunate from the very beginning ; for being wrecked on the coaft of the Caraccas, he died of mere vexation and defpair in the ifland of St. Margaret. i But to return to Gonzalo, who, while Orellana was engaged in this expedition, was reduced to the greateft diftrefs : he proceeded feveral days along the banks of the river, till at laft feeing that there were no hopes of Orellana's return, he concluded, that he and his men were loft ; and therefore giving up ^11 expectation of making any farther difcoveries in that country, proceeded back to his government of Quito. After the marquis Pizarro ,had fent his brother Gonzalo on the above expedition, he employed him- felf folcly in fecuring and eftablilhing his authority by a method that was at once the moft cruel and impo- litic. He had before difcharged all the officers whom he fufpeded to have had any regard for Almagro ; and confcious of his own injuftice, and fearing left they fhould complain againft him, he prevented their, returning home to Spain, by which means many of them were reduced to the neceflity of living upon the alms of their countrymen. He refolved to de- prive them eyen of this pitiful fubfiftence -, and for this purpofe, publifhed an edid forbidding any to re- lieve rhem ; a proceeding that at once rendered them defperate ; and feeing no end to their miferies, but by diipatching themfelves or the marquis, they re- folved upon the latter. He was aflafTinated in h?s Qwn houfc on Sunday June 26th 1541, in the 65th year of his age, in the city of Lima, the capital of PerUj whif h he had founded ten or t leven years be- ^1 fiwc, by FRANCIS PIZARRO. 409 fore. His body was, by the young Almagro's perr miffion, privately interred by his fervants, no per- fon of any figure daring at this jun6ture, to attend his funeral, for fear of giving offence to the prevail- ing party. The meannefs of PIzarro's education was piiblickly known, from his not being able to write his own name, which was always inferted by his fecretary be- tween two ftrokes, which he drew with a pen. He was never married, but hnd feveral concubines, fome of them the daughters and fillers of the incas : hovf- ever, it is not known that he left any children behind him. ' ' ♦ No fooner was this bloody affair compleated, than the confpirators returned to the market-place, de- claring that the tyrant was dead ; and proclaimed the young Almagro governor of Peru. For all the friends of Almagro had affembled while the others were attacking the marquis in his palace, and fecuring his guards, prevented his receiving any afTiftance. They alfo fecured all the horfes and arms in the city, and commanded all the inhabitants who refufed to join them, not to ftir out of their houfes without leave. They plundered the houfes of the marquis, and his principal friends, in which they found immenfe trea- fure. They did not meddle with the furniture of the marquis's palace, which they left for the ufe of the young Almagro, whom they had no fooner proclaimed governor, than they condu6ted thither. The death of Pizarro was, however, far from re- ftoring quiet to Peru ; for a new commiflioner named Vaca de Caftro, a man of ftridt integrity, being' fent from Spain to compofe the differences among the ge- nerals, and in cafe of Pizarro's death to afTume the government of Peru ; he made head againft young Almagro, and defeated him. The confequence was, that Almagro was tried, condemned, and executed in the fame place where his father loft his life before j together with the chief perfons of his party. Dc Alo The Conqucft of t» E R U. Dc Cailro then difbanded his troops and applied himfdf to prudent regulations for the equitable admi«. #iiftration of government j but the cabals of the mi- niftry in Spain obftrudted his progrefs. A kind of royal audience was eftablifhed in Peru, which thwarted all his meafures ; a new governor was fent over of an haughty arbitrary difpofition ; and in the mean time Gonzalo Pizarro got himfclf acknowledged governor of Peru, by a formidable party i fo that now all was diftraclion and confufion. Tht^ emperor being uneafy at hearing of thefe dan- gerous divifions, fent Pedro de Gafco, a prieft of an • excellent character, over under the title of prefident %. of the royal court of Peru, with fovereign powers. V He defeated Gonzalo Pizarro, and taking him pri- foner, caufed him to be tried and beheaded ; and his principal followers to be hanged. After having made thefe facrifices, he proclaimed a general par- ' don, and retired to Cuzco, where he ftaid for fome time, and was greatly perplexed in diftributing the land among the foldiers, in which he found it im- poffible to fatisfy their feveral demands. At lengthy being wearied out with their folicitations, he re- folved to efcape from them at once, and therefore privately withdrew to Lima, whence he went to Panama, in order to embark for Europe : and it is , faid, carried with him near two millions for the emperor's ufe, and not a ducat for himfelf. He em- barked at Nombre de Dios for Spain, in the year 1 5 50 9 and at his arrival, the emperor was fo pleafed with his condudl, that he gave him the bilhopric of Siguenca, a city in old Callile. 5plied idmiw e mi- nd of arted 3f an time ernor 1 was dan- )f an ident wers. I pri' and iving par- fome 5 the im- igth, I re- efore t to it is the em- year lafed ic of ("•^vrvn iCaiMbean Sea inw tcjd.de taliiniJait deZkrrvnSo ^nindt '*,4w*« E N- ^ / / Vf [ 4M I - ',<• A Voyage to South America, By DON GEORGE JUAN : AND DON ANTONIO DE ULLOA. THIS voyage may be confidered as one of the moll ufeful and authentic narratives that ever appeared in any language. It was undertaken by the command of the king of Spain, and the original publifhed at Madrid by his diredion. Tht- motive that gave rife to this expedition was, to mcaiwrc the length of a degree of the meridian near the equator, in order to determine the true figure of the carih. Lewis XV. had applied to the Spanifh monarch for leave to fend fome of the royal academy of fciences at Paris to Quito, which is fituated near the equator, that they might make the neceflary obfervations for determining a problem of fuch importance to the fciences in general, and to thofe of geography and navigation in particular. The king of Spain, per- fuaded of the candour of this application, and being defirous of concurring in fo noble a defign, not only granted leave for the French mathematicians to repair to Quito, but alfo appointed Don George Juan, and Don Antonio de Ulloa, both captains in the Spanilh navy, and very able mathematicians, to accompany the French artifts, and alTiit them in an undertaking at once fo ufeful and fo difficult to be performed. The Spanifh artifts embarked at Cadiz on the 26th of May i735i buf the wiild (hifting, they were Qblige4 .• \ 412 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE obliged to come to an anchor about half a league with- out Las Puercas, where they remained till the 28th, when the wind coming about to the northward, they once n ore got under tail ; and without meeting with any accident worth relating, came to an anchor in Carthagena bay on the 9th of July. The city of Carthagcna (lands in 10 deg. 25 min. 48^- fcconds north latitude, and in the longitude of 282 deg. 28 min. 36 leconds, from the meridian of Paris; and 301 deg. 12 min. ^6 feconds, from the meridian of Pico Teneriffe, as appeared from the ob- fcrvations of the Spanifh artiits. The variation of the needle they alio, from feveral obfervations, found to be eight degrees eafterly. The advantageous fituation of Carthagcna, the ex- tent and lecurity of its bay, and the great ihare it at- tained of the commerce of that fouthern continent, foon caufed it to be eredted into a city ; and the fame circumftance contributed to its prefervation and in- creafe, fo that it foon became the mod eftcemed f«t- tlement and ftaple of the Spaniards -, but at the fame time thefe advantages alfo drew on it the hoftilities of foreigners, who, thirfting after its riches, or induced by the importance of the place itfclf, have feveral times taken and plundered it. ' The city is fituated on a fandy ifland, which form- ing a narrow palTage on the fouth-weft, opens a com- munication with that part called Tierra Bomba, as far as Boca Chica. The neck of land which now joins them, was formerly the entrance of the bay ; but it having been clofed up by orders from Madrid, Boca Chica became the only entrance •, and this alfo has been filled up fince the laft attempt of the Engiifh in the year 1741. This attempt induced the Spanifti court to fend orders for opening the old enirance, through which all fhips now fail into the bay. The land is fo narrow on the north fide, that before the wall was begun, the diftance from fea to fea was only thirty-five fathoms; but afterward enlarging, forms another TO SOUTH AMERICA. 413 in another ifland on this fide •, and the whole city is, ex- cepting thcfe two places, which arc very narrow, en- tirely lurrounded by the fea. Eaftward it communi- cates by means of a wooden bridge. The fortifica- tions both of the city and fuburbs arc con(lru(5lcd in the modern form, and lined with free (lone. The city and fuburbs of Carthagena are well laid out, the ftrcets being ftraight, broad, uniform, and well paved. The houfes are built of ftoiie, except a few which are of brick ; but confift chiefly of only one (lory above the ground-floor*, the apartments, how- ever, arc well contrived. All the houfes have bal- conies and lattices of wood, as being more durable in this climate than iron, which is foon corroded and deftroyed by the moifture and acrimonio is quality of the nitrous air : and from this circumlt..nce, added to the fmoaky colour of the walls, the outfide of the buildings make but an indifferent appearance. All the churches and convents are elegant and fuf- ficiently capacious ; but there appears fomething of poverty in the ornaments, and fomc of them want what even decency requires. The jurifdi6tion of the government of Carthagena reaches eaftward to the great river de la Magdalena, and along it fouthwardj till winding away, it borders on the province of Antioguia : thence it ftrefches weftward to the river of Darien •, and thence north- ward to the ocean, all along the coafts between the mouths of thefe two rivers. There is a tradition, that all thefe countries formerly abounded in gold, and fome veftiges of the old mines of that mc ?1 are ftillto be feen in the neighbourhoods of Simi^:. San Lucas, and Guamaco -, but they are now neg1e6ted •, beiiig, as imagined, exhaufted. But wl at equally contri- buted to the richnefs of this CM;ntry, was the trade it carried on with Choco and Darien ; from whence they brought in exchange for this metal, the fevcral manufadurcs of which they ftood in need. To the above circumllantial defcription of the city c 'at 414 t)ON ULLOA*s VOYAGE of Carthagena, it may not be amifs to add a fliort ac> count of its inhabitants, which may be divided into different Calls or tribes, who derive their origin from a coalition of whites, negroes, and Indians. It will therefore be neceflary to treat of each particularly. The whites may be divided into clafles ; the Euro- peans and Creoles, or whites born in the country. The former are commonly called Chapetones, but are not numerous : moft of them either return into Spain after acquiring a competent fortune, or remove up into the inland provinces in order to increafe it. Thofe who are fettled at Carthagena, carry on the whole trade of that place, and live in opulence, whilft the other in- habitants are indigent, and reduced to have recourfe to .mean and hard labour for fubfiftence. The families of the white Creoles compofe the landed intereft; fome of them have large eilates, and are highly re- fpefted, becaufe their anceftors came into the country invcfted with honourable pofts, bringing their fa- milies with them when they fettled here. Some of thefe families, in order to keep up their original dig- nity, have either married their children to their equals in the country, or fent them as officers on board the galleons. Bcfide thefe, there are other whites in fr\ean circumftances, who either owe their origin to Indian families, or at lead to an intermarriage with them -, lo that there is fome mixture in their blood : but when this is not difcoverable by their colour, the conceit of being whites, alleviates thepreffure of every other calamity. Among the other tribes which are derived from an intermarriage of the whites with the negroes, the firft are the Mulattoes, fo well known, that there is no neceflity for faying any thing farther on this head. Next to thefe are the Tercerones, produced from a white and a Mulatto, with fome approximation to the former, but not fo near as to obliterate their origin. After thefe follow the Quarterones, proceeding from a white and a Terceron. The laft are the Quinterones^ who TO SOUTH AMERICA. 415 igin. from who owe their origin to a white and a Quarteron. This is the laft gradation, there being no vifible dif- ference between them and the whites, either in colour or features ; nay, they are often even fairer than the Spaniards themfelves. The children of a white and Quinteron are alfo called Spaniards, and confider themfelves as free from all taint of the negroe race. Every perfon is fo jealous of their tribe or call, that if through any inadvertence, without the leaft inten- tion to affront, you call them by a degree lower than what they a6tually are, they are highly offended. Before they attain the dais of the Quinterones, there are feveral intervening circumftances which throw them back •, for between the Mulatto and the negro, there is an intermediate race, which they call Sambos, owing their origin to a mixture between one of thefe with an Indian, or among themfelves. They are alfo diftinguifhed according to the cafts their fathers were of. Betwixt the I'ercerones and the Mulattos, the Quarterones and the Tcrcerones, &c. are thofe called Tente en el Ayre, fufpended in the air, becaufe they ' neither advance nor recede. Children whofe parents ' are a Quarteron or Quinteron, and a Mulatto or Ter- ceron, are Salto atras, retrogrades ; becaufe inftead of advancing toward being whites, they have gone back- wards towards the negro race. All the children be- - tween a negro and a Quarteron, are called Sambos de Negro, de Mulatto, de Terceron, &c. Thefe are the moft known and common tribes or cafts ; there are indeed leveral others proceeding from their intermarriages •, but being fo various, even they themfelves cannot eafily diftinguifh them. ^^*- ' Thefe cafts, from the Mulattos, all affeft the Spk- nifli drefs, but wear very flight ftuffs on account of the heat of the climate. Thefe are the mechanics of the city ; the whites, whether Creoles or Chapitones, dildaining fuch mean occupations, follow nothing be- low merchandize. But it being impoffible for all to fucceed, great numbers not being able to procure fuf- 5 hcient 4' DON ULLOA'i VOYAGE ficient credit, become poor and miferable from their averfion to thofe trades they follow in Europe ; and inftead of the riches, which they flattered themfelves with poflefiing in the Indies, they experience the moft complicated wretchednefs. The clafs of Negroes is divided into two parts, the free men and the flaves ; the latter are employed in the farms and villages, and part in the city. Thofe in the city are obliged to perform' the moft laborious lervices, and pay out of their wages, a certain quota to their matters, fubfifting themfelves on the fmall re- mainder. T}ie violence of the heat not permitting them to wear any cloaths, their only covering is a fmall piece of cotton ftuflT about their waift ; the fe- male (laves go in the fame manner. Some of thefe live at the farm houfes, being married to the {laves who work there ; while thofe in the city fell in the markets all kinds of eatables and dry fruits, fweet- meats, cakes made of maize and caflava, and feveral other things about the ftreets. Thofe who have chil- dren fucking at their breafts, carry them on their ihoulders, in order to have their arms at liberty ; and when the infant is hungry, they give them the breaft tither under the arm, or over the fhoulder, without taking them from their backs. This will perhaps ap- pear incredible, but their breafts being left to grow without any preffure on them, often hang down to their very waift. - : ' In the houfe the whole cxercife of the ladies confids in fitting in their hammocks, and fwinging themfelves for air. This is fo general a cuftom, that there is not a floufe without two or three, according to the num- ber of the family. In thefe they pafs the greater part of the day ; and often men, as well as women, fleep in them, without minding the inconveniency of not ftretching the body at full length. Both fexes are obferved to be poflefled of a great Ihare of wit and penetration, and alfo of a genius pro- per to excel in all kinds of mechanic arts. This is 4 particularly « TO SOUTH AMERICA; 417 particularly confpicuous in thofe who apply them'« fclves to literature, and who, at a tender age, fhew a judgment and perfpicacity, which, in other climates, is attained only by a long feries of years and the greateft applicationi This happy difpofition con- tinues till they arc between twenty and thirty years of age, after which they generally decline as fad as they rofe *, and frequently before they arrive at that age, when they Ihould begin to reap the advantage of their ftudies, a natural indole nc; checks their far- ther progrefs, and they forfake the fciences, leaving the furprifing efFefts of their capacity imperfeft* The principal caufe of the fhort duration of fuch promifing beginnings, and of the indolent turn fo often feen in thefe bright geniufes, is doubtlefs the want of proper objedts for exercifing their faculties, and the fmall hopes of being preferred to any poft anfwerable to the pains they have taken : for as there is in this country neither army nor navy, and the civil employments very few, it is not at all furprifing, that the defpair of making their fortunes by this method fhould damp their ardor for excelling in the fciences, and plunge them into idlenefs, the fure forerunner of vice i where they lofe the ufe of their reafon, and ftifle thofc good principles which fired them when young and under proper fubjedtion. The fame is evi- dent in the mechanic arts ; wherein they early excel, and fpeedily decline, from the caufes already men- . tioned. Charity is a virtue in which aH the inhabitants of Carthagena, without exception, may be faid particu- larly to excel i and did they not liberally exert it to- wards European ftrangers, who generally come hither, as they phrafe it, to feek thtir fortune, they would often perifh with ficknefs and poverty. This appears a fubjedt of fuch importance, though well known to all who have vifited this part of the world, that a word or two muft be added on it, in order to un* deceive thofe who, not contented wirh perhaps a competent eftate in their own country, imagine that Vol. I, E e it 4i8 DON ITLLOA's VOYAGE it is only fetting their foot in the Indies, and their for- tune is made. Thofe on board of the galleons who are called Pulizones, are men without employment, ftock, or recommendation ; wlio leave their country as fugi- tives, and, without licence from the officers, eomc to ftek their fortune in a country, wliere they are utterly unknown. I'hefc, after truverfing the ftreets till they have nothing left to procure them lodging or food, are reduced to have recourle to the lall ex- tremity, the Francifcan hoinital, where they receive not in a quantity fullicient to liitisfy hunger, but barely to keep them alive, a kind of pap made of caflTava ; which, as the natives themfelves will not eat it, the tafte, to wretched mortals never ufed to fuch food, may be eafily conceived. As this is their food, fo their lodging is the entrance of the fquares, and the portico's of churches, till their good fortune throws them in the way of hiring themfelves to fome trader going up the country, and who wants a fervant : for the city merchants, ftanding in no need of them, fhew FiO great countenance to thefe adventurers, as they iray very juftly be called. Affefted by the difference of the climate, aggravated by bad food, dejedled and tortured by the entire difappointment of their roman- tic hopes, they fall into a thoufand evils, which can- not well be reprefented ; and among others, tliat dif- temper called at Carthagena, Chapclnnada, or the diitemper of the Chapitones, without any other fuc- cour to fly to than Divine Providence; for none find admittance into the hojpital of St. Juan de Dios, but thofe who are able to pay ; and conlequently poverty becomes an abfolutc exclufion. Now it is that the charity of thefe people becomes confpicuous. The Negro and Mulatto and other free women, moved at their deplorable condition, carry them to their houfes, and nurle them with the greateft care and aff«6lion. If any one die, they bury him by the charity they pro- cure, and even caufe mafles to be faid for him. The general to SOUTH AMERICA* 419 general iflue of this endearing benevolence is, that the Chapitone, on his recovery, during the fervour of his gratitude, marries either his Negro or Mulatto bene- fadtrefs* or one of her daur'hters ; and thus he is fet- tied, but much more wretchedly than he could have been in his own country, though he had only his la- bour to fubfift on. The difintereftedncfs of thefe people is fuch, that their compaffion toward the Chapitones mull not be imputed to the hopes of producing a marriage, it being very common for them to refufe offers with regard to themfelves or their daughters, that tiieir mifcry may not be perpetual -, but endeavour to find them a mafter, whom they may attend up the coun- try, whither their inclination or the faireft profpetts lead them. Thofe who remain in the citv, whether bound by- one of the above marriases, or become watermen and labourers, or fuch like mean oc^cupations, are fo ha- raffed with labour, and their wages fo fmall, that their condition in their own country muft have been mifer- able indeed, if they have not reafon to regret their quitting it. And the height of their enjoyment, after toiling all day and part of the night, is to regale them- felves with fome bananas, a cake of maize, or cafava, which fervesfor bread, and a flice of cafajo, or hung beef i without ever tailing any wheat bread during the whole year. Others, and not a few, equally unfortunate with the former, retire to fome fmall firm-houle,, where in a bujio, or ftraw hut, they live little different from beads, cultivating, in a very fmall fpot, fuch vege- tables as are at hand, and fubfifting en the fale of them. Among the reigning cuftoms here, fome are very different from thofe of Spain, or the moft known parts of Europe. The principal of thefe are the ufe of brandy, cacao, honey, fweetmeats, and fmoaking •tobacco, which fl:»all be taken notice of in their proper places. : _ i . " E e 2 ,■ ' TPiic 4'20 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE The life of brandy is fo common, that the raoft re- gular and fober perfons of all degrees never omit drinking a glab of it every morning about eleven o'clock, alleging that this fpirit ftrengthens the fto- mach, weakened by copious and conftant perfpira- tion, and Iharpens the appetite. Hacer las once, to do the eleven, that is, to drink a glafs of brandy, is the common phrafe. This cuftom, not efteemcd per- nicious by thefe people when ufed with moderation, has degenerated into vice •, many being fo fond of it, that during the whole day, they do nothing but kacer las once. Chocolate, here known only by the name of cacao, is fo common, that there is not a negro flave but con- ilantly allows himfelf a regale of it after breakfaft ; and the negro women fell it ready made about the ftreets, at the rate of a quarter of a real (about five farthings fterling) for a difli. This is however fo far from being all cacao, that the principal ingredient is but that ufed by the better fort is neat, and maize worked as in Spain. This they conftantly repeat an hour after dinner, but never ufe it fading, or without eating fomething with it. They alfo make a great life of fwcetmeats and honey ; never fo much as drinking a glafs of water without previoufly eating fome fweetmeats. Honey is often preferred as the fweeter, to conferves or other fweetmeats, either wet or dry. Their fweetmeats are eaten with wheat bread, which they ufe only with thefe and chocolate ; the honey they fpread on cafava cakes. Tlie palFiOn for fmoaking is no lefs univerfal, pre- vailing among perfons of all ranks in both fexes. The ladies and other white women fmoak only in their houfes •, a decency not obferved either by the women of the other calls, nor by the men in general, who regard neither time nor place. The manner of ufing it IS, by flender rolls compofed of the leaves of that plant-, and the women have a particular method of inhaling the fmoak. They put the lighted part of the roll TO SOUTH AMERICA. 421 roll into their mouths, and there continue it a long lime, without its being quenched, or the fire incom- moding them. A compliment paid to thofe for whom they profefs an intimacy and elteem, is to light their tobacco for them, and to hand them around to thofe who vifit them. To refufe the offer would be a mark of rudenefs not eafily digefled ; and accordingly they are very cautious of paying this compliment to any but thofe whom they previouQy know to be ufed to tobacco. One of the mofl favourite amufements of the na- tives here, is a ball, or fandango, after the manner of the country. And thefe are the diflinguifhed rejoic- ings on fettivals and remarkable days. But while the galleons, guarda-coftas, or other Spanifh fhips are here, they are mofl common, and at the fame time conduced with the leafl order *, the crews of the fhips forcing themfelves into their ball-rooms. Thcfe di- verfions, in houfes of diflindion, are conduced in a very regular manner; they open with Spanifh dances, and are fucceeded by thofe of the country, which are not without fpirit and gracefulnefs. The fandangos, or balls of the populace, confifl principally in drinking brandy and wine, intermixed with indecent and fcandalous motions and geflures ; and thefe continual rounds of drinking foon give rife to quarrels, which often bring on misfortunes. When any flrangers of rank vifit the city, they are generally at the expence of thefe balls ; and as the entrance i$ free to all, and no want of liquor, they need give themfelves no concern about the want of company. Their burials and mournings are alfo fomething fm- gular, as in this particular they endeavour to difplay their grandeur and dignity, too often at the expence of their tranquillity. If the deceafed be a perfon of condition, his body is placed on a pompous catafalco, eredled on the principal apartment of the houfe, amidfl a blaze of tapers. In this manner the corpfe lies twenty-four hours or longer, for the acquaintance E c 3 of 422 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE of the family to vifit it at all hours ; and likewife th«J lower clafs of women, among whom it is a cuftom to come and lament the decealed. The funeral alfo is accompanied with the like noify lamentations ; and even after tlie corpfe is depofitcd in the grave, the moLirning is continued in the houfe for nine days. The French mathematicians arrived at Carthagena on the fixteenth of November, 1735, where they were joined by the Spanidi artills -, and on the 24th they all embarked on board a French frigate for Porto- b.llo. The paflage was very Ihort and pleafant •, fo that on the 29th of the fame month they came to an anchor in Porto-bello harbour. The town of St. Philip de Porto-bello, according to their obfcrvarions, flancls in 9 deg. 34 min. 35 fc- conds north latitude ; and by the obfervations of fa- ther Feuillee, in the longitude of 82 deg. 10 min. W. from the meridian of Paris This harbour was difi- covered on the fecond of November 1502 by Chrifto- pher Columbus, who was fo charmed with its extent, depth, and fecurity, that he gave it the name of Porto-Bello, or the fine harbour. The town ftands near the fea, on the declivity of a mountain furrounding the whole harbour. Many of the houl'cs are built with wood, but in fome the firft ftory is of ftone, and the remainder of wood. They are about i 'O in number, and mod of them large and fpacious. It is under the jurifdidlion of a governor, with the title of lieutenant-general, under the prefi- dent of Panama. At the e:;ll: end of the town is a quarter called Guinea, becaufe there all the negroes, whether flaves or free, have their habitations. This quaner is mu.h crouded when the galleons are in the htirbour, mofl of the inhabitants of the town entirely quitting thehr houfes at that feafon, for the advan- tage of letting them, while others content themfclves with a Tmall put, in order to make money of the reft. In a hvrrc track between the town and Gloria caftle, barracks are eredted, and principally filled with the fhip^ (hips kind cone thofc TO SOUTH AMERICA. 423 fliips crews ; who keep ftalls of fweetmeats, and other kind of eatables, brought from Spain. But after the conclufion of the fair, when the fhips are failed, all thofe buildings are taken down, and the town returns to its former tranquillity and emptineis. The harbour of Porto Bello is extremely commo* dious for all forts of iTjips or v: fiels ; and, though its entrance is very wide, it is well defended by fort St, Philip de todo Pierro. It ftands on the north point of the entrance, which is about fix hundred fathoms, or fomething lefs than the fourth part of a league broad •, but the Ibuth fide being full of rifes of rocks, extending to fome di (lance from the fliore, a fliip is obliged to ftand to the north, through the deepeft part of the channel, which lies in the middle of the en- trance, and thus continues in a ftraight dire6tion, hav- ing nine, ten, or fifteen fathom water, and a bottom of clayey mud mixed with chalk and fand. On the foiiih fide of the harbour, and oppofite to the anchoring place, is a large caftle, called Santo Ja- go de la Gloria; to the eaft of which, at the diftance of about an hundred fathoms, begins the town, hav- ing before it a point of land proje6ting into the har- bour. On this point flood a fmall fort called St. Je- rom, within ten toifes of the houfes. All thefe were demoliflied by admiral Vernon, who in 1739 made himfclf mailer of this port. Among the mountains which furround the whole harbour of Porto Bello, beginning from St. Philip de todo Pierro, or the iron Caftle, and without any de- creaie of height, extends to the oppofite point, one is particularly remarkable by its fuperior altitude, as if defigned for the barometer of the country, by fore- telling every change of weather. This mountain, dil^ tinguidied by the name of Capiro, ftands at the ut« moil extremity of the harbour, in the road to Panama. Its top is always covered with clouds of a denfity and darknefs feldom feen in this atmofphere -, and from thefe, which are called the capillo, or cap, has poflibly E e 4 beca 434 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE been corruptly formed the name of Monte Capirp. When thcle clouds thicken, increafc their blackncfs, and fink be}ow their ufual itatioi), it is a fure fign of a ttmpelt : while, on the other hand, their clearnefs and afeent, as certainly indicate the approach of fair Aveaihcr. It mult liowevcr be remembered, that thefe changes are very frequent, and almoft inftantaneous. The jurifdidtion of the lieutenant-general governor of j?ur^o Bello, is limited to the town and the forts *, the neighbouring country, over which it mi^ht be extendi d, bemg full of mountains, covered with im- penetrable forelts, except a few valleys, iji which are thinly fcattered Tome fmall farms. The inclemency of the climate of Porto Bello is fufEciently known all over Europe. Not only (Gran- gers who come ihither are atre(5lcd by it, but even the naiives themfelves fuffer in various manners. It de- flroys the vigour of nature, and often untimely cuts the thread of life. The heat is exceffive, being aug- mented by the fituationof the town, which isfurroundr led with high mountains, without apy interval for the winds, whercjjy it might be refrefhed. The trees on thefe mountains ftand fo thick as to intercept the rays of the fun i and confequentiy hinder them fronn drying jthe earth under them : hence copious exhalations form large clouds, and precipitate in violent torrents of rain. But ihcfe are no fooner over, than the fun jjreaks forth afrelh, arid fhines with his former fplen- dor ; though fcarce has the activity of his rays dried the furface of the ground, not covered by the trees, than the acmofphere is ag^in clouded by another coir Jedlion of th;ck vapours, and the fun again con- cealed ; and in this nianner it continues during the whole day : the night is alfo fubjedt to the fame vi- cifljtudes. Thefe torrents of rain, which by their fuddennefs and impetuofity feem to threaten a fecond deluge, are accompanied wiih Inch tempells of thunder and light- ning, as mull daunt the moil relbjute. To this may be bead of m< them TO SOUTH AMERICA. 425 be added the bowlings and (lirieks of the multitudes of monkeys of all kinds, which live in the forcils of the mountains, and which are never louder, than when fL man of war fires the morning and evening gun, though they are io much ufed to it. This continual inclemency, added to the fatigue of the feamen in unloading the Ihips, renders them weak and faint; and they, in order to recruit their fpirits, have rccourfe to brandy, of which there is, on thefe occafions, an incredible confumption. The exceflive labour, immoderate drink, and the inclemency and unhealthfulnefs of the climate, muil jointly dedroy the bed conititutions, and produce thofe deleterious difeafes fo common in this country. But it is not the feamen ^lone who are fubjeft to thefe difeafes ; others who are grangers to the leas, and noi concerned in the fatigues, are alfo attacked by them ; and, confc- quently, is a fufficient demonftration that the other two are only collateral, though they tend both to ipread and inflame the diftemper. On fome occafions, phyficians have been fent for from Carthagena, as be- ing fuppoled to be better acquainted with the propercfl: methods of curing the diftempers of this country, and confequently more able to recover fhe I'eamen : but experience has fhewn, that this intention has been fo little anfwered, that the galleons, or other European fhips, which (lay any time here, feldom leave it, with.- out burying half, or at 'eaft one third of their men ; and hence this city has with too much reafon been termed the grave of the Spaniards •, but it may with much greater propriety be applied to thole of other nations who vifit it. The number of the inhabitants of Porto Bello, by reafon of its fmallneis, and the inclemency of its cli- mate, is very inconfide^able, and the greatclt part of thefe are negroes and mulattoes, there being fcarcp thirty white families ; for all who by commerce or their eftates ^re in eafy circumftances, retiiove to Pa- nama, lb that thofe pnly itay at Porto Beilp whofe employment oblige them to it. 2 Provi- 426 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE Provifions are fcarce at Porw Bello, and confe- qucnily dear, particularly during the time of the gal- Icons and the fair, when there is a necefTity for a lup- ply from Carthagena and Panama. The only thing ill plenty here is filh, of which there is a great va- riety, and very good. It alio abounds in fugar- canes, fo that the chacaras, or farm houles, if indeed they df ferve that name, are built of then. They have al!b fi]r;ar-works, where fugar, molafles, and rum, are made. Frefli water pours down in ftreams from the moun- tain, feme running without the town, and others crofTing it. Thefc waters are very light and digcftive, and, in thofc who are uled to them, good to create an appftire; qualities which, in other countries, would be very valuable, but are here pernicious. This country feems fo curled by nature, that what is in itfelf good, becomes here deftrudive. For doubilefs this water h too fine and a<5live for the ftomachs of the inhabi* tanrs ♦, and thus produces dyfenteries, the laft ftage of all other diftempers, and which the patient very fel- dom furvivcs. The rivulets, in their defcent from the mountains, form little refcrvoirs or ponds, whofe coolncfs is increai'ed by the fhade of the trees ; and in thcle all the inhabitants of the town bathe themfclves conftantly every day at eleven in the morning : and the Europeans fail not to follow an example fo plea- fant and conducive to health. < As the forefts almoft border on the houfes of the town, the tigers often make incurfions into the ftrcets during the night, carrying off fowls, dogs, and other domeilic creatures ; and fometimes even boys have fallen a prey to them ; and it is certain that ravenous beads, after tafting human flefh, prefer it to all other, Befide the fnares ufually laid for them, the negroes ?ind mulattoes, who fell wood in the forefts of the mountains, arc very dexterous in encountering the ti<^cr ; and fome even on account of the flender re- v/aid, fcek them in their retreats. The arms in this onfer. TO SOUTH AMERICA. 427 onfct, ftcmingly fo dangerous, are only a lance of two or three yards in length, made of a very ftrong wood, with the point of the fame hardened in the fin* \ and a kind of ci meter about three quarters of a yard in length. Thus armed they ilay till the creature m;ikes an aflault on the left arm, which holds the lance, find is wrapped up in a Ihort cloak of bays. Some- tin es the tiger, aware of the danger, feems to decline the combat ; but his antagonift provokes him with a flight touch of the lance, in order, while he is defend- ing himfelf, to ilrike a fure blow : for as foon .js the creature feels the lance, he grafps it with one of his paws, and with the other ftrikes at the arm which holds it. Then it is that the perfon nimbly aims a blow with his cimeter, which he kept concealed in the other hand, and hamltrings the tiger, which imme- diately draws back enraged, but returns to the charge ; when receiving another fuch ftroke, is to- tally deprived of his mod dangerous weapons, and rendered incapable of moving. After whi^h the perfon kills him at his leifure-, and ftripping off his (kin, cutting off the head, and the fore and hind feet, returns to the town, difplaying thofe as the trophies of his vidory. Among the great variety of animals in this country, one of the molt remarkable is the Perico Ligero, or nimble Peter, an ironical name given it on account of its extreme fluggifhnefs and floth. It refembles a middling monkey in fhape, but of a wretched ap- pearance, the fkin of it being of a gr^ifh brown, and ^11 over corrugated, and the legs ajid feet without any hair. He is fo lumpif|i as not to (land in need of ei- ther chain or hutch •, for he never ftirs till compelled Ipy hunger ; and Ihews no manner of apprehenfion ei-f ther of men or wild beads. When he moves, every effort is attended with fuch a plaintive, and at the fame time fo difagreeable a cry, as at once produces pity and difguft ; and this even in the flightell motion pf the head, legs, or feet; proceeding probably from ageijieral 4a8 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE a general contraftion of the mufcles and nerves of his body, which puts him to an extreme pain when he en- deavours to move them. In this difagreeable cry confifts his whole defence -, for, it being natural to him to fly at the firft hoftile approach of any bcaft, he makes at every motion fuch howJings as arc even in- fupportable to his purfuer, who foon quits him, and even flies beyond the hearing of his horrid noife. Nor is it only during the time he is in motion that he makes thefe cries -, he repeats them while he refts him- felf, continuing a long time motionlefs before he takes another march. The food of this creature is gene- rally wild fruits •, and when he can find none on the ground, he looks out for a tree well loaded, which with a great deal of pains he climbs ; and in order to fave himfelf fuch another toilfome afcent, plucks oflfall the fruit, throwing them on the ground : and to avoid the pain of defcending the tree, forms himfelf into a ball, and drops from the branches. At the foot of this tree he continues till all the fruit are confumed, never ftir- ring till hunger forces him tofeek again for food. Serpents here are very numerous, and very deftruc- tivc. Toads alfo fwarm, not only in the damp and raarfliy places, as in other countries, but even in the ftreets, courts of houfes, and all open places in ge- neral. "When it has rained in the night, the fl:reets and fquares in the morning fetm paved with thefe reptiles ; fo that you cannot ftep without treading on them, which fometimes is produ<5tive of trouble- fome bites -, for befide their poifon, they are large enough for their teeth to be feverely felt. At the feme time, there are fuch numbers of them, that no- thing can be imagined more difmal than their croak- kigs, during the night, in all parts of the town, woods, and caverns of the mountains. The town of Piorto BeJlo, fo thinly inhabited by reafon of its noxious air, tie fcarcity of proviftons, and the barrennefs of its foil, bcrcomes, at the time of the galleons, one pf the n^oft populous places in all South TO SOUTH AMERICA. 429 South America. Its fituation on the ifthmus, betwixt the fouth and north fea, the goodnefs of its harbour, and its fmall dillance from Panama, have given it the preference for the rendezvous of the joint commerce of Spain and Peru at its fair. On advice being received at Carthagena, that the Peru fleet has unloaded at Panama, the galleons make the beft of their way to Porto Bello, in order to avoid the diftempers which have their fource from idlenefs. The concourfe of people on this occafion is fuch, as to raife the rent of lodgings to an exceflive degree ; a middling chamber, with a clofet, lets, during the fair, for a thoufand crowns, and fome large houfes for four, five, or fix thoufand. As foon as the Ihips are moored in the harbour, a fquare tent covered with the {hip*s fails is eredled for receiving the cargo 5 at the landing of which the pro- prietors of the goods are prefent, in order to claim their own bales. Thefe are drawn on fledges to their refpedtive places by the crew of every fliip. While the feamen and European traders are thus employed, the land is covered with droves of mules from l?anama, loaded with chefts of gold and filver on account of the merchants of Peru : yet, notwith- ftanding all this hurry and confufion, no theft, lois, or difturbance, is ever known. He v/ho has (ttn. Porto Bello ?.t other times, folitary, poor, and a per- petual filence reigning every where, the harbour quite empty, and every place wearing a melancholy afpe6b, mufl: be filled with aftonifliment at the fudden change, to fee the buftling multitudes, every houfe crowded, the fquare and ftreets encumbered with bales, and chefts of gold and filver, and the harbour full of fliips and vefTcls. In fliort, he will fee a fpot, at other times detefted for its deleterious qualities, become the ftaple of the riches of the old and new world, and the fcene of one of the moft confiderable branches of commerce in the whole earth. Soon after the Spanilh and French mathematicians arrived 4jq DON ULLOA's VOYAGE arrived at Porto Bello, they fent advice of it to the prefident of Panama, requefting him toiendfomeof the veflels ufed in the navigation of the river Chagre to carry them to Panama ; as their inftruments ren- dered it impoflible for them to travel through the nar- row craggy roads leading from Porto Bello to that city. He readily complied with their requeft, and immediately difpatched two veflels to Porto Bello ; on board which they all embarked on the 2 2d of Decem- ber, and rowed out of Porto Bello harbour, and at four in the evening landed at the cuftom-houfe at the mouth of the river Chagre. This river has its fource in the mountains near the town of Cruces. Its entrance at the north fca is defended by a fort fituated on a deep rock near the fea-lhore, on the eaft fide of the river. About twenty yards from this fort is the town of San Loren- 20 de Chagref, The barks employed on tliis river are of two kinds, the chatos and bongos. The former are, like the European veflfels, compofed of feveral pieces of tim- ber-, but of a greater breadth, that they may draw but little water : they carry from feven to eight hun- dred quintals. The latter are formed out of one piece of wood •, and it is aftonifhing to think there fkould be trees of fuch a prodigious magnitude, fome of them being eleven Paris feet broad, and carry con* veniently four or five hundred quintals. Both forts have a cabin at the (tern for the convenience of paf- fengcrs, and a kind of awning, iupport^d by wooden llancheons, reacliing to the head. Each of thefe re- quire, befide the pilot, eighteen or twenty robuft ne- groes at leaft ; as it would be otherwife impoflible to make any way againil the current. Perhaps nothing can excel the prolpecls which the rivers of this country exhibit. The molt fertile ima- gination of a painter can never equal tlie magnificence" of the rural kuidfcapes which are here to be ken. The groves, which ihade the plains, and extend dieir branchL.':^ have TO SOUTH AMERICA. 431 'h'."J, branches to the river, are inhabited by an infinite variety of creatures. The different fpecies of mon- keys, fkipping in troops from tree to tree, hanging from the branches ; in other places fix or eight of them linked together in order to pafs a river, the dams with their young on their flwulders, throwing tiiemfelves into odd pollures, and making a thoufani grimaces, will perhaps appear fidlitious to thofe who have never feen them. But if the birds be added* our reafon for admiration will be greatly increaftd : for here are an amazing abundance, whofe plumage glitters with all the colours of the rainbow. On their arrival at Cruccs, they were entertained by the alcalde of the town •, and on the 27th let out on their journey to Panama, which they reached in the evening. They firit waited on t!ie prefidcnu, who received them all in the moll cordial and en- dearing manner. Some indifpenfible preparations detained them longer at Panama than they expeded. But at length every diiBculty being furmounted, they embarked in the bay of Panama, and directed their courfc towards the river Guiaquil. Panama is built on an idhmus of the fame name, the coaft: of which is walhed by the South-Sea^ From the obfervations thofe mathematicians made here, tlie latitude of this city appears to be 8 dcg. 5 min. 48 and a half feconds north. With regard to its longitude, it is ftill doubtful, whetlier it is on the caft or weft fide of the meridian of Porto Bello. The French geographers will have it to lie on the call fide, and accordingly have placed it fo in their maps •, but, in thofe of the Spaniards, ic is on the well: fide : and perhaps the latter may be concluded to have a more intimate knowledge of their refpedHve fituition^. The houfes in general, when our artifts vifited this city, were of wood, but of one ftory, and a tiled roof, but large -, and their difpofition, and the fymmetry of their wmdows, made a handfomc appearance : a few ^^ were 432 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE were of ftone. The ftreets both of the city and fiib- urb are ftraight, broad, and, for the moll part, paved. Though the greateft part of the houfes were for- merly of wood, fires were rarely known at Panama; the nature of the timber being fuch, that if any fire is laid on :!.:. floor, or placed againft a wall, it is produdivc of no other confcquence than that of mak- ing a hole, without kindling into a flame, and the fire is extinguiflied by the alhes. But notwithftand- ing this excellent quality of the wood, in the year 1737, the city was almofl: entirely confumed; the goodnefs of the timber being unable to fecure it from the ravages of the flames. In this city is a tribunal or royal audience, in which the governor of Panama prefides ; and to this employ- ment is annexed the captainfliip-general of Terra Firma, which is generally conferred on an oflicer of diftindlion, though his common title is that of pre- fident of Panama. It is a bilhopric, and has alfo a court of inquifnion appointed by the tribunal of inquifition at Carthagcna. The harbour of this city is formed in its road, by the fhelter of feveral iflands, particularly Ifla deNaos, de Perico, and Flamencos -, and the anchoring place is before the fecond, and thence called Perico. The Ihips here lie very fafe ; and their diftance from the city is about two leagues and a half, or three leagues. The variation of the magnetic needle in the road is 7 deg. 39 min. eafterly. Both the road and the whole coaft abound in a great variety of exceilant fifh, among which are two kinds of oyfters, one fmaller than the other j but the fmalleft are much the beft. At the bottom of the fea are a great number of pearls ; and the oyfters in which they are found are remarkably delicious. This kind of fiftiery is of great advantage to the inhabitants of all the iflands in this bay. 'I he harbour of Perico is the rendezvous of the Peru TO SOUTH AMERICA. 433 Peru fleet, during the time of the fair •, and is never without barks loaded with provlfions from the ports of Peru, and a great number of coalling veffels go- ing from thence to Choco, and parts on the weftern coaft of that kingdom. The winds are the fame as along the whole coaft; the currents are ftronger near the iflands than at a diftance from them-, but no general rule can be given with regard to their courfe, that depending on the place where the Qiip is, with regard to the chan- nels which t(iey form. They alfo vary in the fame place according to the winds. ' t , ' ^ / • The inhabitants of Panama greatly refenible thofe of Canhagena in their difpofitions, except in their being more parfimonious, and more defigning : the women imitate the drefs of the ladies of Peru. They wear girdles, and five or fix chaplets or rows of fine beads about their necks, together with two or more gold chains, having fome relics appendant from them. Round their arms they wear bracelets of gold, and ftrings of pearls, corals, and beugles. Provifions of all kinds are very dear in this city and its diftri6t, occafioned by the large quantity re- quired, and the great diftance which they are brought; but is amply compenfated by the multitude and value of the pearls found in the oyfters of the gulph; and particularly thofe near the iOands del Rey Ta- bago, and others to the number of forty-three, form- ing a fmall archipelago. 1 here are few perftns of fubftance near Panama, who do not employ all, or at leaftpart of their flaves in this fiihery-, the manner of which not being commonly known, it will not be improper to defcribe it here. The owners of the negroes employ the moft pro- per perfons for this fiftiery ; which being performed at tlie .bottom of the fea, they muft be both expert fwimmers, and capable of holding their breath a long time. Theie they fend to the iflands, where they have huts built for their lodgings and bo^ts, which Vol. I. F f hold 434 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE hold eight, ten or twenty negroes, under the com- mand of an officer. In thefe boats they go to fuch parts as arc known to produce pearls, and where the depth of the water is not above ten, twelve, or fif- teen fathom. Here they come to an anchor, and the negrces having a rope faftened round their bodies, and I he oiher end to the fide of the boat, they take with them a fmall weight to accelerate their finking, and plunge into the water. On reaching the bottom they take up an oyfter, which they put under the left arm ; the fecond they hold in their left hand, and the third in their right : widi thefe three oyfters, and fometimes another in their mouth, tliey rife to breathe, and put them in a bag. When they iiave relied them- fclves a while and recovered their breath, they dive a fecond time j and thus continue, till they have either compleatcd tlieir tallv, or llrength fails them. Every one of thofe iiegroe divers, is obliged daily to deliver his mafter a certain fixed number of pearls ; fo that when they have got the requifite number of oyfters in their bag, tliey begin to open them, and deliver the pearls to the officer till they have made up the number due to their mafter. The remainder are the property of the negroes. Befide the toil of this fifliery, from the oyfters ftrongly adhering to the rocks, they are alfo in no fmall danger from fome kinds of fiih, which either feize the negroes, or by ftriking on them, cruflitheni to the bottom. The fiffiery on the whole coaft is obnoxious to the fame danger from thofe fiffi, but they are much more frequent where fuch riches abound. The taburones, and tintorctas, which are of an enornious fize, feed on the bodies of thefe un- fortunate fiftiermen -, and the maiitas, or quilts, either prel's them to death by wrapping their fin:: about them, or crulh them with their prodigious weight. The name Manta has not been iinp'operly given to this fifh, either with regard to its figure or property ; for being broad and long hke a quilt, it wraps its fins round ivc a are TO SOUTH AMERICA. 435 round a man, or any other animal that happens to come within its reach, and immediately fqueezes it to death. This fifh refembles a thornback in (hape, but is prodigioufly larger. Every negroe, to defend himfelf againlt thefe ani- mals, carries with him a fharp knife, with which, if the fi(h offers to aflault him, he endeavours to flrik^ it in a part where it has no power to hurt him ; on ^which the filh immediately flies. The officers keep a watchful eye on thefe voracious creatures, and on difcovering them, fhake the rope faftened to the ne- groes bodies, that they may be upon their guard. Many, on the diver's being in danger, have thrown themfelves into the water with the like weapon, and haftened dov/n to their defence-, but too often all their dexterity and precaution are not fufficient to pro- teft the diver from being devoured by thefe fi(h, or lofmg one of his limbs by their bite. Befide thefe pearls, the kingdom of Terra Firma was formerly equally remarkable for the fins gold produced by the mines in its territories j and which' confequently proved a very confiderable addition to its riches. Part of thefe mines were in the province of Veraguas, others in that of Panama ; but moft, alfo the richeft, and whofe metal was of the fineft quality, were in the province of Darien : and, on that account, the conftant objects of the miners. But the Indians revolting, and making themfelves maflcrs of the whole province, there was a neceffity for aban- doning thefe mines, by which means the greateft part of them were loft ; a few only remaining on the fron- tiers, which ftill yield a fmall quantity of gold. Though the mines of Veraguas and Panama are not expofed to thefe dangers, yet they are not worked with more vigour than the others •, and this for two reafons. The firft is, that befide their being iefs rich in metal than the others, the gold they yield is not of fo good a quality as that of Darien -, the fe- cond, and indeed the moft weighty, is, that thefe F f 2 fea^^j, 1 ■j 4^6 DON ULLOA's voyage feas, by their rich produce of pearls, offer a more certain, ,and at the fame t'mc a more eafy profit. Among the creatures eaccn by the inhabitants of Panama, is an amphibious creature called guana. It refcmbles a lizard in (hape, but is confiderably larger, being generally about a yard in length. It is of a yellowilh green colour, but of a lighter yellow on the belly than on the back, where the green predomi- nates. It has four legs like a lizard, but its clawso are much longer in proportion : they are jointed by a web which covers them, and is of the fame form ivith thofe c'f geefe, except that the talons at the ends of the toes are much longer, and projeft entirely out of the web or membrane. Its flcin is covered with a thin fcale adhering to it, and which renders it rough and hard ; and from the crov;n of its head to the be- ginning of its tail, which is generally about half a yard, runs a line of vertical Icalcs, each fcale being from one to fix lines in breadth, and three or four in jength, feparated fo as to make a kind of faw : but from the end of the neck to the root of the tail, the fcales gradually IcfTen, fo that they are fcarce vifible at the latter part. Its belly is, in largenefs, very dif- proportionable to its body •, and its teeth are feparated and very (harp pointed. On the water it rather walks than fwims, being fupported by the webs of its feet •, and on that element its fwiftnefs is amazing, being out of fight in an inftant ; whereas on the land, though far from moving heavily, its celerity is much lefs. When pregnant, its belly fwells to an enormous fize i and indeed they often lay fixty '^ggs at a time, each of which is about as large as that of a pigeoft. Thefe eggs are reckoned a great dainty in every part of America where the creature is found. The flefli of the guana is exceeding white, and greatly admired ; but few Europeans can be perfuaded to eat it. Every thing being now ready for their departure, they embarked on board the St. Chriftopher, com- manded by capt. Don Juan Manuel Morel, and the 9th port TO SOUTH AMERICA. 437 9th of March, about three in the evening, they came to an anchor in Manta bay ; being delircus of viewino^ this coaft, in order to know whether by form- ing ilteir hrft bafe in one of its plains, the feries ot triangles could be continued to the mountains in the neighbourhood of Quito. Accordingly they went on fliore in the evening of the fixth, and repaired to the village of Monte Chrifto, about three leagues from the coad •, but fpon found that geometrical operations were impracticable there, the country being every where extremely mountain- ous, and almod wholly covered with prodigious trees, an infurmountable obftacle to any fuch deiign : they therefore determined to puffue their voyage to Guia- quil, and thence to Quito. The bay of Manta was formerly remarkable for a confiderkble pearl fifhery, but it has been difcon- tinued for feme time. The bay has probably its name from the great quantity of mantas in thofe parts, the Indian inhabitants being chieBy employed in tak- ing that fiih, which they fait and carry to the inland provinces. Europeans cannot help admiring their dexterity in this kind of fifhery, which they carry on in the following manner : They throw into tiiC water a log of wood, fuch as they ufe in making a balza, being about five or fix yards in length, and near a foot in diameter. This log will be fufficient to fup- port the weight intended, which confifts of a net ly- ing acrofs one end of it, and an Indian (landing in an eredt pofition on the other. On this tottering vef- fel, affifted by only a fingle par, he puts off to Tea, about the diftance of half a league, where he fhoots his net. Another Indian follows him on a fimilar log, takes hold of the rope faftened to one end of the net, by which means the whole is expanded,^ and both the Indians move toward the land, where their parners wait to draw the net on lliore. In tliis occu- pation the dexterity and agility of the Indians in maintaining an equilibrium on the round logs, is truly Ff amazing, 438 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE amazing •, for the continual agitation of t^he fea rcn* dcrs it abfolutfly neceflary for them to be courinually changing their pofition, and making ciifFerent mo- tions with their bodies: and what ftUl heightens th? difficulty is, that the Indian is at the fame time oblig- ed to mind both his oar and his net, in drawing it toward the land. They do indeed fometimes, though very feldom, flip off their logs •, but being ffxcellent fv/immers, they recover their bark, and in an inftant place themfclvcs in their former pofture. On the thirteenth of March they kft ijie bay of Manta, and coaftcd along fl-)ore, within the iflar d cic la Plata. On the i8rb they anchored in the mouth of the river Tumbez, where they rtmained till the 20th; when at fix in the morning they got under fail, and on the 25th, at five in the evening, landed at Guia- quil, which (lands in 2° 1 1' 21" S. Lat. r:r)Li; icj r. • Guiaquil is of confidcrable extent, taking up, along the banks of the river from the lower part of the old town to the upper part of the new, a fpacc of near half a league i but the breadth is not at all propor- tional, every perfon being fond of having a haufe near the river. All the houfes of both towns are built of wood, and many of them covered with tiles 5 though the gr^ateft part of thofe in the old town arc only thatched : but in order to prevent the fpreading t)f fires, by which this city has feverely fuflfercd on feveral occafions, fuch covering is now prohibited. Mofl of thefe conflagrations owed their rife to the malevolence of the negroes, in order to revenue fome punifhments inflidted on them by their mafters. As a farther precaution againft fire, which they have fo much reafon to dread, the kitchens ftand twelve or fifteen paces from the houfes s with which they com- municate by means of a long open gallery, ,refem- bling a bridge*, but fo flightly built, that, on the lead appearance of fire in the kitchen, it is demoliflied jn ah inftant : by which means the houfe is preferved. Xh* groi^nd oi). which the new city is built, and are o TO SOUTH AMERICA. 439 tfie favannahs in its neighbourhood, are not to be travelled over either on toot or horfeback during tias winter -, for being a Tpungy c^alk, it is every where fo level, that there is no declivity for carrying off the water : and therefore on the firlt rain it becomes a ge- neral flough. In this refped tlie old town has the ad- vantage, being built on a gravelly foil, which is never impalliible. This city is defended by three foi-ts j two on the river near the city, and the third behind it, guarding the entrance of a ravin. Thefe are all built after the modern method of fortification •, but before they were created, it had only a platform, which is Hill remain- ing in the old town. Airthe churches and convents are of wood, except that of St. Domingo, (lill (land- ing in the old town, which is of ftone : the great fo- lidity of the ground in that part being fufRcient for iiipporting buildings of this kind. ' '• ■"^." The city and its jurifdidion are under a corregidor, nominated by the king, who holds his office during five years. Notwithftanding he is fubordinate to the prefident and audience of Quito, he appoints the de- puties in the feveral departments, of his jurifdidlion, and for the police and civil government. The eccle- fiaftical government is lodged in the bifhop of Quito's vicar, who is generally alfb the prieft of the town. Guiaquil contains, in proportion to its dimenfions, as many inhabitants as any city in all America -, the continual refort of ftrangers drawn thither by com- merce, contributing very greatly to increafe the num- ber, generally computed at twenty thoufand. Though the heat here is equal to that of Panama or Carthagena, yet the climate diftinguifhes itfelt in the colour of the human fpecies ; and if a certain au- thor has ftyled it the equinodlial low countries, ia allufion to the refemblance it bears to the Netherlands of Europe ; it may, with equal propriety, bear that appellation from this Angularity, namely, that all the nitives, except thofe born from a mixture of blood, are frefh coloured, and fo finely featured, as juftly to F f 4 be IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MTS) // // ^ 1.0 1.1 mm m itt u us. 2.0 iJ& ir-2^ i'-^ iij4 < 6" »> Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. UStO (71«)«72-4S03 m \ <^ ^. '^. 4^ \ ) 440 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE be called the handfomeft, .both in the province of Qui- to, and even in all Peru. To thefe perfonal advan- tages beftowed by nature in a diftinguiflicd manner on the inhabitants, it has added the no lefs pleafing charms of elegance and politenefs. • From the commerce of this city a ftranger would imagine it richer than it actually is. This is partly owing to the two dreadful pillages it has fuffcred, and partly to fires •, by both which it has been totally ruin- ed. Europeans who have raifed any thing of a fortune here, when they have no immoveable goods to detain them, retire to Lima, or fome other city of Peru, where they may improve their flocks with greater fccurity. -^f The cacao tree abounds in this dillridl, and is ge- nerally not lefs than eighteen or twenty feet high. It begins from the ground to divide itfelf into four or five ftems, according to the vigour of the root, from whence they all proceed. They are generally between four and feven inches in diameter-, but their firft growth is in an oblique direction, fo that the branches are all expanded and feparated from one another. The length of the leaf is between four and fix inches, and its breadth three or four. It is very fmooth, foft, and terminates in a point, like that of the China orange tree, but with fome difference in colour ; the former being of a dull green, and has nothing of the glofs obfervable on the latter : nor is the tree fo full of leaves as that of the orange. From the item, as well as the branches, grow the pods which con- tain the cacao. The firft appearance is a white blof- fom, not very large, whofe piftil contains the embryo of the pod, whtch grows to the length of fix or feven inches, and four or five in breadth, rcfembling a cucumber in fhape -, and llriated in a longitudinal di- redion, but deeper than the cucumber, f The colour of the pod while gowing is green, near- ly, refembiing that of the Icafj but when arrived at its full perfedion, it gradually chu.ngcs to a yellow. The ihell which covers it is thin, fmooth and clear. . i. ■: ■; ^ '-.|. f i .. / When TO SOUTH AMERICA. 44? When the fruit is arrived at its full growth, it is gathered; and being cut into dices, its pulp appears White and- juic/, with fmaU feeds, regularly arranged, and at tKat time of no greater confillence than the reft of the pulp, but whiter, and contained in a very . fine delicate membrane; full of liquor refembling milk, but tranfparent, and fomething vifcid : at this time it may be eaten like any other fruit. Its tafte is a fwe^tifh acid *, but in this country is thought pro- motive of fevers. The yellownefs of the pod indi- cates that the cacao begins tc feed on i;s fubftance, to acquire a greater confidence, and that the feeds begins to iiil, the colour gradually fading till they are fully complected; when the dark brown colour of the Ihell into which the yellow has deviated, indi- cates the proper time tp gather it. The thicknefs of the (hell is now about two lines, and each feed found inclofed in one of the compartments formed by the tranfverfe membranes of the pod. After gather- ing the fruit, it is opened, and the feeds taken out and laid on Ikins kept for that purpofe ; or more ge-, n^rally in vijaua leaves, and left in the air to dry. This tree produces its fruit twice a-year, and in the fame plenty and goodnefs. The quantity gather- ed throughout the whole jurifdidtion of Guiaquil amounts at lead to 50,000 cargoes. r:,«^v^v .4'*' s The cacao trees delight fo exceflivcly in water, that the ground where they are planted muft be reduced to a mire; and if not carefully fupplicjd with water they die. They muft alfq be planted in the ftiade, or at leaft defended from the perpendicular rays of the fun. Accordingly they are always placed near other larger trees, under the Ihelter of which they grow ^nd dourifli. The navigable part of the river of Guiaquil ex- tends from the city to the cuftom-houfe at Babahoyo, the place where the goods are landed. This diftance meafured on the furwce of the water, between Guia- quil and the cuftom-hoyfc of Babahoyo, is twenty- four , I Hi DON ULLOA^s VOtAGE four leagues and a half; and to Caracol, the landing place in winter, twenty- eight and a half. The tides, 'during the fummer-time, reach up to the cuftom-houfe, checking the velocity of the cur- rent, and confequcntly caufing the waters to fwell j but in winter, the current being ftronger and tnore rapid, the increafe of the water is vifibfc only in the reaches near Guiaquil : and in three or tour different times of the year, the great velocity of the current render the tides imperceptible. The principal caufe of the fwellings of this river arifes from the torrents rulhing down from the Cor- dillera. For- though rain is frequent here, great part of the water is received by its lakes, or ftagnates on the plains ; fo that the increafe in the waters of the river arc enttrely owing to the torrents from the mountains., - ■ The borders of this river, together with thofe of Its crrcks and canals, are decorated with country feats, and cottages of poor people of all calls, hav^ ing here both the convenience of fiftiing and agricul- ture j and the intermediate fpaces filled with fuch a variety of thickets, that art would find it difficult to imitate the delightful landfcape here exhibited by nature. The principal and moft common materials ufed in building on thefe rivers, are canes : thefe alfo form the inward parts, as walls, floors, and rails of the ftairs. The larger houfes differ only in fome of the principal pieces, which are of wood. The method of building is, to fix in the earth, eight, ten, or twelve pieces of wood, more or lefs, according to the dimenfions of the houfe, forked at the top, and of a proper length ; all the apartments being on the firft ftory, without any ground floor. Beams are then laid acrofs on thefe forks, at the d;fl:ance of four or five yards from the ground. On thefe beams canes are laid in fuch a manner as to form a kind of riafters; and over thefe, boards of the fame canes, a foot and ! • a half TO SOUTH AMERICA. 443 a half in breadth, which form as firm and handfomc a flooring as if of wood. The partitions of the fe- veral apartments are of the fame rriaterials ; but the ■ outer walls are generally latticed, for the free admif- fion of the air. The principal beams of the roof of large houfes are of timber, the rafters of cane, with fmaller in a tranfverfe diredion, and over thefe vijaua kaves. Thus a houfe is built with very little ex- pence, though containing all the neceflary conveni- encies. "With regard to the poorer fort, every one's own labour ferves to procure him a habitation. The lower part, both of thefe houfes, as well as thofe in the grcateft part of the jurildiAion of Guiaquil, arc entirely open, without having any fence, except the poftsand ftancheons by which the building is fup^ ported : the ground floor is wholly ufelefs in the win- ter, when all the country is turned to mud. Such houfes, however, as (land beyond the reach of inun- dations, have ground floors, finifhed like the other apartments. All the inhabitants have their canoes for pafllng from one hpufe to another ; and are fo dextrous in the managennent of thefe I'kiflfs, that a little girl ven- tures alone in a boat fo fmall and flight, that another ieis flcilful would overfet in ftepping into it. ^ The continual rains in winter, and the flightnefs of the materials with which thefe houfes are built, ren- der it neceflary to repair them during the fummer ; but thofe of the poorer fort, which are low, mufl: be •every year rebuilt, efpecially thofe parts which confift < of cane, bujuco and vijaua, while the principal ftan- cheons, which form the foundation, ftill continue fcr- viceable, and able to receive the new materials. The veflels ufed upon this river are, chatas, canoes, and balzas, or rafts, a name which fufficiently ex- plafns their confliruftion, but not the method of ma- naging them 5 which thefe Indians, ftrangers to arts jand fciences, have learned from necefl!ity. The b^zas, called by the Indians jangadas, are '^ compofcd I 444 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE compofed of five, fevcn, or nine bpams of a foil of: wood, which, though known here only by the name of balza, th^ Indians of Darien call puero -, and, ia- all appearance, i$ the ferula of the Latins, mentioned by CoUumclla. It is a whitifh, foft wood, and fo very light, that a boy can eafily carry a log of it, three or four yards in length, and a foot in diameter. Balzas are not only ufed on riyers, but fmaU voya- ges are made at fea on them ; and fometimes tiiey go as far as Paita. Their dimenfions being different, they are alfo applied to different ufes ; fome of them being fifhing balzas ; fome carry all forts of goods from the cultom-hp,ufe to Guiaquil, and from thence to Puna, the Salto de Tumbez, and Paita *, and others of a more curious and elegant conftruftion, fcrve for removing families to their cftates and country houfes^ having the fame convenience as on fhore, not being the leaft agitated on the river : and that they have fufHcient room for accommodations, may be inferred from their length of the beams, which are twelve or fifteen fathoms, and about two feet, or two and a half diameter -, fo that the nine beams of which they conlift, form a breadth of between twenty and twen* ly-four feet, and proportional in thofe of icven, or , any other number of beams, inovo ft ;-?i %oThefc beams avc fattened or lafhcd together, fo fecurely, that with the crofs pieces at each end, which are alfo lafhed with ail poflible flrength, they reOft the rapidity of tlie currents in their voyages to the coaft of Tumbez and Paita. Though by their iieglcct in examining the condition of the bejucos, wl\ether they are not rotten or worn, fo as to require others, there are fome melancholy inftances of baK ;zas, which in bad weather have feparated, and by jhat means the cargo loll, and the paffengers drown- £4. With regard to the Indians, they never fail of ^getting upon one of the beams, which is fufficient tor them to make their way to the next port. '»'!«! #>ti^The thickcfl beam of thofe which compofe the l=?woq*no:> '' balza ■%. TO SOUTH AMERICA. 445 Dalz'a IS placed fo as to projecSb beyond the other in its after- part, and to this is lafhed the firft beams on each fide, and thus fuccelTively till the whole are fe- cured i that in the middle being the principal piece, and thence the number of beams is always odd. The larger fort of balzas generally carry between four and five hundred quintals, without being damaged by the water ; for the waves of the fea never run over the balza, neither does the water fplafh up between the beams, the balza always yielding to the motion of the waves. , Hitherto we have only mentioned the conftru^tion and ufes they are applied to ; but the grcateft fingu- larity of this floating vehicle is, that it fails, tacks, and works, as well in contrary winds, as (hips with a keel, and makes very little lee-way. This advantage it de- rives from another method of fleering than by a rud- der •, namely, by fome boards, three or four yards in length, and half a yard in breadth, called gueras, which are placed vertically both in the head and flern, between the main beams, and by thrufting fome of thefe deep in the water, and raifing others, they bear away, luff up, tack, lay to, and perform all the other motions of a regular (hip. ' The increafe of fi(h in this river is greatly hindered by the prodigious numbers of alligators : an amphi- bious creature, being both in the rivers and the adja- cent plains i though it is not often known to go far from the banks of the river. When tired withfwim- ming they leave the water to balk themfelves in the fun, and then appear more like logs c£ rotten wood thrown afhore by the current, than living creatures : but upon perceiving any vcffel near them, they im- - mediately throw themfelves into the water. Some are fo large, as to exceed five yards in length. Dur- ing the time they lie ba(king on the (hore, they keep thfeir huge mouths wide open, till filled with flies ^d other infefbs, when they fuddenly (hut their jaws, and fwallow lieir prey. Whatever may have been written 44. But the longeft practice of travelling thefe roads, can- not entirely nee the mules from a kind of dread or horror, which appears when they arrive at the top oiF a fteep declivity : for they ftop without being check- ed by the rider ; and if he inadvertently endeavours to *fpur them on, they continue immoveable •, nor will they ftir from the place till they have put them- felves in the above-mentioned pofture. Now it is that they feem to be actuated by reaibn -, for they not only attentively view the road, but tremble and fnort at the danger ; which if the rider be not accuftomed to thefe emotions, cannot fail of filling him with ter- rible ideas. The Indians go before, and place them- fclvcs along the fides of the mountain, holding by the roots of trees, to animate the beafts with Ihouts, till they at once ftart down the declivity. The natural difficulty of all the roads among the mountains are increafed by the negle£b of them, which is greater than could eafily be conceived. If a tree, for inftance, happens to fall down acrofs the road, and itop up the pafTage, no perfon will be at the pains to remove it ; and though all pafling that way are put to no fmall difficulty by fuch an obftacle, it ii fuffered to continue : neither the government, nor thofe who frequent the road, taking any care to have it drawn away. Some of thefe trees are indeed fo large, that their diameter is not lefs than a yard and a half, and confequently fill up the whole pafTage ; in which cafe the Indians hew away part of the trunk, and affift the mules to leap over what remains ; but in order to this, they muft be unloaded -, and after f i TO SOUTH AMERICA. 455 prodigious labour, they at laft furmount the difficul- ty, though not without great lofs of time and da- tndge to the goodi. When, pleafed with having got over the obftacle themfelves, they leave the tree in the condition they found it ', fo that thofe who follo\V are obliged to undergo the fame fatigue and trouble. Thus the road, to the great detriment of trade, re- mains encumbered till time has deftroyed the tree. They now began to defcend with more eafe towards the province of Chimbo, attended by the provincial alcalde, and the moft eminent perfons of the town. After complimenting them in the moft cordial man- ner on their arrival, they proceeded together, and within a league of the town were met by the priefV, a dominican, accompanied by feveral of his order, and a number of the inhabitants, who alfo Irft the town on the fame friendly occafion : and, to heighten the ceremony, had brought with them a troop of cholos, or Indian boys. In this manner the cavalcade entered the town, on which all the bells in the place wer6 rung, and every houfe refounded wkh the noife of trumpets, tabors and pipes. On exprefling to the corregidor their furprife at this reception, as a compliment far above their rank, he informed them that it was not at all fingular, it being no more that what was commonly pradtifed when perfons of any appearance entered the town -, flnd that there was no fmall emulation between the feveral towns in paying thofe congratulations, '^mi^i. >' After they had palled the mountains beyond Pu- cara, the whole country within the reach of t;he eye during a pafTage of two leagues, was a level and open plain, having neither trees nor mountains, and covered with fields of wheat, barley, maize, and other grain, naturally gave our artifts great pleafure. The corregidor entertained them in his houfe at Guaranda till the 21ft of the fame month, when they continued their journey to Quito ; whither they arrived, without meeting with any remarkable occui*- rences, in a few days. G g 3 , At 454 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE At the extremity of a fpacious plain, called Tvira Bamba, that is, a muddy plain, ftands the city of Quito; on which they entered at five in the evening on the 29th. The prefident of the province, befide providing apartments for them in the palace of the jiudencia, entertained fhem the firft three days with great fplcndor, during which they were vifited by the bi(hop, the auditor, the canons, the regidores, and all other perfons of any diftindtion, who feemed %o vie with each other in their civilities. ' > '■■ Our artifts found from accurate obfervations, that the city of Quito js fitu^ted in the latitude of o deg. 13 min. 33 fee. fouth, and in 298 deg. 15 min. 45 fee. or 61 deg. 44 min. 15 fee. weft longitujde from the meridian of Teneriflfe. It ftands in the inland parts of the continent of South America, and on thQ eaftern (kirts of the weft Cordillera of the Andes. Its diftance from the coaft of the fouth fea is about 25 leagues weft. Contiguous to it on the north-weft, i? the mountains and defart of Pichincha, not lefs fa- mous among ftrangers for its great height, than among the natives for the great riches it is imagined %o contain. The city is built on the acclivity of that mountain, and fyrrounded by others of a middling height, among the breaches, or guaycos, as they are called here, which form the eminences of Pichincha. Some of thefc breaches are of a confiderable depth, ^nd run quite through it, fo that great part of the buildings ftand upon arphe§. T^Js renders the ftreets irregular and extremely uneven, Ibme parts of the city being built on the ^fcents, defcents, and fummits of the breaches. The city with T^gard to magnitude, may be compared to one of the fecond order in Eu- rope i but the unevennefs of its fitjaatjon is a great difadyantage to its appearance. Near it are two fpacious plains j one on the fouth, called Zurubamba, three leagues in length *, and this pthpr on the north, termed Inna-Quito, about two leagues in extent. Both are interfperf(;d with feats and TO SOUTH AMERICA. 455 cultivated lands, which greatly add to the profpeft from the city, being continually covered with a lively verdure. Thefe two plains contract as they approach the city ', and at their junction, form a neck of land, covered with thofe eminences, on which part of Quito ftands. It may perhaps appear ftrange, that notwith- flanding twofuch beautiful and extenfive plains are fo near the city, a fituation fo very inconvenient fhould be preferred to either. But the firft founders feem to have had lefs regard for convenience and beauty, than for prefervingthe remembrance of their conquefts, by building on the fite of the ancient capital of the Indians, who made choice of fuch places for erefting their towns ; probably from their being better adapted to defence. Befide, the Spaniards, during the infancy of their conqueft, little imagined this place would ever increafe to its prefent magnitude. Quito, however, was formerly in a much more flourifhing condition than at prefent ; the number of its inhabitants being confiderably decreafed, particularly the Indians, whole ftreets df whofe huts are now forfaken, and in ruins. Pichincha, in the pagan times, was a volcano ; and even fome fiery eruptions have been known fince the conqueft. The mouth or aperture was in a pic, the top of which is now covered with fand and calcined matter. At prefent no fire is ejected, nor does there any fmoke iflue from it. The higheft part of Pichin- cha is covered with ice and fnow, confiderable quan- tities of which are brought down to the city, and mix- ed with the liquors drank by people of fafhion. The principal fquare in Quito has four fides, in one of which ftands the cathedral, and in the oppofite the epifcopal palace-, the third tide is taken up by the town-houfe ; and the fourth by the palace of the au- dience. It is very fpacious, and has in the center an elegant fountain. It is, indeed, rather disfigured than adorned by the palace of the audience -, which, inftead of being kept in repair, the greateft part of it has been fufFered to fall into ruins 5 only a few halls G g 4 and S • • 45^ DON ULLOA's VOYAGE and offices being taken any care of. The principal ftreeis are paved i but thofe which arc not, are al- mod irnpaffible after rain, which is here very common. Befide the principal iquare, there are two others in Quao, and both very fpacious, together with feveral others that are fmaller. In thefe the greateft part of the convents are fituated, and thence make a very handiome apptarance ; the fronts and portals of thofe edifices dedicated to religion, being adorned with all th:r embellifliments of architedure, particularly the convtnt of the order of Francifcans, which being wholly of free ftone, muft have coft a prodigious fum. The cathedral, bcfide the richnefs of its furniture, is fplendidly adorned with tapeftry hangings, and other coflly decorations v but in this ref'pect the other parifli- churches are lb mean, as to have fcarce neceflfaries for performing divine worship. Some of them are without pavements j and every other particular is of a piece with that mark of poverty. Among the courts, whole feffions are held at Quito^ the principal is that of the royal audience, which was* eftabliflied there In the ytar 1563; and confifts of a prefKient, (who is aiiO governor of the province with rx^gard to matters of law) four auditors, who are at the fame time CivJand criminal judges, and a royal fifcal, fo called, as befide the caufes brought before the au- dience, Ik alib takes cognizance of every thing relating to the revenvie of the crown. Befide this, there is ajfo another fifcal called i'rotedor de los Indies, *' Protestor of the Indian^," who foliclts for them, aiid, when, injured, pleads in their defence. The ju- ' fifdidlipn of tlus court extends to the utmoi^ limits of the province with no other appeal than to the council . of the In 'ies, arid this only in cafe of a rejection of a petition, flac;rant injuilice. The tnb mal de cruzada, or croizadfe, has a com- mifl'iry, wiiois generally fome dignitary of the church, * ^nd 4 treafut'er^ who is alfp the accomptant, and through tbrov croizl H cC'dVi indi< were I thol« genci curell inltiil abufJ bcfoi . Bt TO SOUTH AMERICA. 457 through whofe hands every thing paffcs relating to the croizade. ' Here is alfo a treafury for the effefts of perfons de- cedVd, an inftitiition long fince eftabliftied all over the indies, for receiving the goods of thofe whofe heirs were in Spain, that thus they might be fecured from thofe accidents, to which, from difhonefty, or negli- gence, they would be liable in private hands, and fc- curely kept for the perfons to which they belong : an initiiution, originally very excellent, but now greatly abufcrd, great diminutions being made in the eftates before tiiey ure reftored to their proper owners. Bcfide the above-mentioned tribunals, here is alfo a comii'ifiary of the inquifition, with an alguazil piajor, and lamiliars appointed by the holy oifice of Lima. ^ •■' ' •!|l1/yi'-'vriK9•i^•n;:*c<;I^ The cathedral chapter confifts of the bifhop, dean, ^archdeacon, chanter, trealurer, dodoral, penitentiary, a magiftral, three canons by prefentation, four pre- bends, and twodemi-prebends, with confiderable re- venues. This church was er^^ died into a cathedral in the year i 45 •, and among other feltivab that are ce- lebrated in it, with amazing magnificence, are thofe of iCorpus Chrifti, and the conception of our Lady ; when all the courts, offices, and perfons of eminence, never fail to aflift. But the fingniar pomp of the proceflion of the hoft in the forme- r, arjd the dances of the In- dians, muft not be omitted. With regard to the dances ; it is a cuflom, both among the parilhes of Quito, and all thofe of the mountains, that the prieft, a month before the cele- bration of the feafts, feled:s a number of Indians, who are to be ihe dancers. Thefe immediately begin to praAife the dances they ufed before their converfion to ehriftianity. The mufic is pipe and ta;bor ; and the molt extraordinary of their motions a few awkward Capers : in ihorr, the whole is little to the tafte of an European. Within a few days of the folemnity, they idrefs themfelves in a doublet, Ihirt, and a woman's petticoat. 458 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE petticoat, adorned in the fineft manner pofliblc. Over their (lockings they wear a fort of pinked buflcins, on which are faftencd a great nunnber of bells. Their head and face they cover with a fort of malk, formed of ribbands of feveral colours. Dreffed in this fan- taftical garb, they proudly call themfelves angels, unite in companies of eight or ten, and fpend the whole day in roving about the ftreets, highly delight- ed with the gingling of their bells ; and frequently ftop to dance, to gain the applaufes of the ignorant multitude, who are ftrangers to elegant dancing. But what is really furprifing, is, that without any pay, or view of intereft, unlefs they think it a religious duty, they continue this exercife a whole fortnight before the grand feftival, and a month after it, without minding either their labour or families. The. fame drefs is worn by them in other proceflions, and at the bull feafts, when they are excufcd from labour, and therefore highly pleafed with them. Soon after our artifts arrived at Quito, they deter- mined to continue the feries of the triangles for mea- furing an arch of the meridian to the S. of that city : the company accordingly divided themfelves into two bodies, confifting of French and Spaniards, and each retired to the part affigned them. Don George Juan and M. Godin, who were at the head of one party, went to the mountain of Pambamarca -, while M, Bouguer, de la Condamine, and Don UUoa, together with their aflfjftants, climbed up to the higheft fummit of Pichincha. Both parties fufFered extremely, both from the feverity of the cold, and the impetuofity of the winds, which on thefe heights blow with inceflant violence •, difficulties the more painful, as they had been little ufed to fuch fenfations. Thus in the tor- rid zone, nearly under the equinodlial, where it is natural fo fuppofe they had moll to fear from the heat, their greatcft pain was caufed by the exceffivenefs of the cold. _ .^ .' ...... .■^^T)'^. V.,, ..,_. Thrir uncoi each done there that TO SOUTH AMERICA. 459 ? Their firft fcheme for flielter and lodging in thefc uncomfortable regions, was to pitch a field-tent for each company ; but on Pichincha this could not be done from the narrownefs of the fummit : they were therefore obliged to be contented with a hut fo fmall that they could hardly all creep into it. Nor will this appear ftrange, if the reader con fiders the bad dilpofi- tion and fmallnefs of the place, it being one of the loftieft crags of a rocky mountain, one hundred fa- thoms above the higheft part of the defart of Pichin- cha. Such was the fituation of their manfion, which, like all the other adjacent parts, foon became covered with ice and fnow. The afcent up this ftupendous rock, from the bafe, or the place where the mules could come, to their habitation, was fo craggy as on- ly to be climbed on foot ; and to perform it coft them four hours continual labour and pain, from the violent efforts of the body, and the fubtility of the air; the latter being fuch as to render refpiration difficult. The ftrange manner of living to which our artifts were reduced during the time they were employed in d. geometrical menfuration of fome degrees of the me- ridian, may not perhaps prove unentertaining to the reader ; and therefore the following account is given as a fpecimen of it. The defart of Pichincha, both with regard to the operations performed there, and its inconveniencies, differing very little from others, an idea may be very eafily formed of the fatigues, hard- fhips, and dangers to which they were continually pxpoied during the time they were profecuting the en- terprize, with the condudt of which they had been honoured. The principal difference between the fe- veral defarts confilted in their greater or leifer diftance from places where they could procure provifions ; and in the inclemency of the weather, which was propor- tionate to the height of the mountains, and the feafon of the year. They generally kept within their hut. Indeed they were obliged to do this, both on account of the in- tenfenefs 4^0 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE tenlencrs of the cold, the violence of the wirtd ; and their being continually involved in fo thick a fog, that an objc6l at fix or eight paces was hardly dif- cerrrible. When the fog cleared up, the clouds by their gravity moved nearer to the furface of the earth, and on all fides furrounded the mountain to a vail diftance, reprefenting the fea, with their rock like an ifland in the centre of it. When this happened, they heard the horrid noifes of the tempefts, which then difcharged themfelves on Quito and the neighbouring country. They faw the lightenings iffue from the clouds, and heard the thunders roll far beneath them : and whilft the lower parts were involved in tempefts of thunder and rain, they enjoyed a delightful fere- nityj the wind was abated, the (ky clear, and the enlivening rays of the fun moderated the feverity of the cold. But their circumftances were very different when the clouds rofe ; their thicknefs rendered refpi- ration difficult ; the fhow and hail fell continually, and the wind returned with all its violence ; fo that it was impofTible entirely to overcome the fears of being, together with their hut, blown down the pre- cipice, on whofe edge ic was built, or of being bu- ried under it by the daily accumulations of ice and fhow. ! ' . . ^noiijt. • The wind was often fo violent in thefe regions, that its velocity dazzled the fight, whilft their fears were increafed from the dreadful concuffions of the preci- j>ice caufed by the fall of enormous fragments of rocks. Thefe cruflies were ti^,e more alarming, as no other noifes are heard in thefe dcfarts : and during the night, their reft, which they fo greatly wanted, was frequently difturbed by fuch fudden founds. When the weather was any thing fair with them, and' the clouds gathered about feme of the other mountains which had a connection with their oLfervations, fo that they could not make all the ufe they defired of this interval of good weather, they left their hut to exercife themfelves. Sometimes they defcended to i fome TO SOUTH AMERICA. 461 of of ibme fmall diftance, and at others, amufed themfelves with rolling large fragments of rocks down the preci- pice ; and thefe frequently required the joint ilrength of them all, though they often faw the fame effedcd by the mere force of the wind. But they always took care in their excurfions not to go far out, but that on the leaft appearance of the clouds gathering about their cottage, which often happened very fuddcnly, they could regain their Ihelter. The door of their hut was faflened with thongs of leather, iind on the infide not the fmalleft crevice was left unftopped > bcfide which it was very compadly covered with ftraw: but notwithflanding all their care, the wind pene- trated through. The days were often little better than the nights *, and all the light they enjoyed was that of a lamp or two, which they kept continually burning. Though their hut was fmall, and crouded with in- habitants, befide the heat of the lamps, yet the in- tenfencfs of the cold was fuch, that every one of them was obliged to have a chafing-difh of coals. Thefc precautions would have rendered the rigour of the climate fupportable, had not the imminent danger of perifhing by being blown down the precipice, roufed them every time it fnowed, to encounter the feve- rity of the outward air, and fally out with (hovels to free the roof of their hut from the malles of fnow which were gathering on it. Nor would it without this precaution, have been able to fupport the weight. They were not indeed without fervants and Indians ; but thefe were fo benumbed with the cold, that it was with great difficulty they could get them out of 9l fmall tent, where they kept a continual fire. So that all our artifts could obtain from them was to take their turns in this labour *, and even then they went very unwillingly about it, and confequently per- formed it flowly. It may eafily be conceived what this company fuf- fered xrom the afperities of fuch a climate. Their 'i; - J} , ' " ' ■•' ' ' feet 462 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE feet were fwcllcd, and (o tender, that they could not even bear the heat ; and walking was attended with extreme pain. Their hands were covered with chil- blains ; their lips fwcllcd and chopped ; fo that every motion in fpeaking or the like, drew blood : confe- quently they were obliged to drift taciturnity, and little difpofed to laugh, as by caufing an extenfion of the lips, it produced fuch fiflures as were very pain- ful for two or three days after. ' Their common food in this unhofpitable region was a little rice boiled with fome flefh or fowl, procured from Quito ; and inftead of fluid water their pot was filled with ice ; they had the fame refource with re- gard to what they drank : and while they were eating, every one was obliged to keep his plate over a chafing- didi of coals, to prevent his provifions from freezing. The fame was done with regard to the water. At firft they imagined the drinking ftrong liquors would diffufe a heat through the body, and, confequently, render it lefs fenfible of the painful fharpnefs of the cold i but to their furprife, they felt no manner of ftrength in fuch liquors : nor were they any greater prefervative againft the cold than the common water. At the fame time they found it impoffible to keep the Indians together. On their firft feeling of the climate, their thoughts were immediately turned on deferting their matters. The firft inftance they had of this kind was fo unexpefted, that had not one of a better difpofition than the reft ftaid and acquainted them of their defign» it might have proved of very bad confequence. The affair was this : there being on the top of the rock no room for pitching a tent for the Indians, they.ufed every evening to retire to a cave at the foot of the mountain •, where, befide a natural diminution of the cold, they could keep a continual fire *, and, confequently, enjoyed more comfortable quarters than their mailers. Before they withdrew at night, they fattened on the outfide, the door of the hut, which was fo low that it was impof- 2 .- \ . fibk TO SOUTH AMERICA. 4^3 fible to go in or out without (looping ; and as every night the hail and fnow which had tallcn, formed a wall asainft the door, it was the bufinefs of one or two ot the Indians to come early and remove this ob- ftruftion. For though the Negro fervants were lodged in a little tent, their hands and feet were fo covered with chilblains, that they would rather have fuflfered themfelves to have been killed than move. The In- dians therefore came conftantly up to -difpatch this work betwixt nine or ten in the morning ; but they had not been there above four or five days, when they were not a little alarmed to fee ten, eleven, and twelve come, without any news of their labourers ; when they were relieved by the honeft fervant men- tioned above, who had withllood the fedudiion of his countrymen, and informed his mafters of the de- fertion of the four others. As foon as the fnow was cleared away from the door, they difpatched the In- dian to the corregidor of Quito, who with equal dif- patch fent other Indians, threatening to chaftife t^em feverely if they were wanting in their duty. ♦ But the fear of punilhment was not fufficient to in- duce them to fupport the rigour of this fituation ; for within two days they deferted. The corregidor there- fore, to prevent any other inconvenience, fent four Indians under the care of an alcalde, and gave orders for their being relieved every fourth day. Twenty-three tedious days our artifts fpent on this rock, viz. to the 6th of September, and even without any poflibility of finjlhing their obfervations of the angles ; for when it was fair and clear weather with them, the others on whofe fummits the fignals which formed the triangles for meafuring the degrees of the meridian, were hid in the clouds ; and when thofe were clear, Pichincha was involved in clouds. It was therefore neceflary to ered: their fignals in a lower fi- tuation, and in a more favourable region. This however did not produce any change in their habi- tation till the beginning of December j v/hcn having ^niihed t> 4^4 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE finiflicd the obfervations which particularly concerned Pichincha, they proceeded to others ; but with no abatement either of inconvcniencies, cold, or fatigue : for the places where they made th ^ • : t They readily obeyed the order of the vice-roy, and having furnifhed themfelves with necelTaries at Quito, fet out from that city on the 30th of Odober, and de- termined to go by Guaranda and Guiaquil •, for though there is a road by land through Cuenca and Loja, yet the other feemed the mofl expeditious, as the ways are neither fo bad, nor mules and other beafts of carriage io difficult to be met with. They reached the Salto on the 7th at night. It is a place ''yhjch ferves as a kind of harbour for boats and Imall velleis, and is fituated at the head of fome creeks, or arms of the fea, between fourteen and lix- teen leagues from the coail, biit entirely deftitute of inhabitants, no frelh water being found in any part of the adjacent country, fo that it only fcrves for land- ing goods configned to Tumbez. '- On the 9tli in the morning they reached the town of Tumbez, fxtuated feven leagues from the Salto i ^^■'--i -V. ., : ., ., the the w tirely and of th( neral TO SOUTH AMERICA. 467 the whole country through which the road lies is en- tirely wafte, pare of it being overflowed by the tides, and the other parr dead fands, which refledb the rays of the fun fo intenfely, as to render it necclTary in ge- neral to perform this journe/ in the night ; for travel- ling feven leagues thither, and as many back^ with* out either water or fodder, is much tOo laborious foi* the mules to undergo in the day-time. Near Tumbez is a river of the fame name» which difcharges itfelf into the bay of Guiaquil, almoft op- pofite.to the ifland of St. Clare. Barks, boats, balzas, and canoes may go up and down this rive , it being three fathoms deep, and twenty-five broad -, but it is dangerous to go up it in the winter feafon, the impe- tuofity of its current being then increafed by torrents from the mountains. At a fmall diftance from the Cordillera, on one fide of the banks of the river, flands the little town of Tumbez, in a very fandy plain, interfperfed with fome eminertces. The whole country, from the town of Tumbez to Lima, con- tained between the foot of the Cordillera and the fea^ is known by the name of Valles. Tumbez was the place where, in the year 1526, the Spaniards firft landed in thefe parts of South- America, under the command of Don Francifco Pizarro. Along the delightful banks of the river, fo far as the water is conveyed, maize, and all other fruits and vegetables that are natives of a hot climate, are produced in the greateft plenty; and in th« more diftant parts, which are deftitute of this advantage, grows a kind of leguminous tree, called algarrobale, producing a bean, which ferves as food for all kinds of cattle. - • The journey from Tumbez to Piura was perform- ed in 54 hours, exclufive of thofe when they refted ; fo that the mules, which always travel one conftaht pace, gofomething above a league an hour. To the t^wn of Amotape, the only inhabited place in the ; whole road, is forty-eight leagues. The remaining H h a part m If- p- ■ r ^'•>'.' 46B DON ULLOA's VOYAGE part is one continued defart. The mules are allowed two or three hours reft, when they feem quite fpcnt, Or at places where water is near. The town of Amotape, which ftands in 4 deg. 51 min, 43 fee. fouth latitude, is an appendix to the pa- rilh of Tumbez, belonging to its lieutenancy, and in the jurifdidtion of Piura. The houfes are about thirty in number, and compofed of the fame materials with thofe of Tumbez i but the inhabitants are only In- dians and Meftizos. A quarter of a league from it is a river of the fame name, and whofe waters are of fuch prodigious ufe to the country, that it is every ^here cultivated, and divided into fields, producing plenty of the feveral grains, excellent vegetables i^nd fruits, natural to a hot climate, but like Tum- bez h infcfted with mofchitos. This river in fum- ttier may be forded, but in winter, when the tor- rents defcend from the mountains, it muft be croflfcd in a balza. From what has been faid, the difficulties of travel- ling this road may be conceived. Befides, as far as Amotape, not only all kinds of provifions muft be carried, but even water, and the requifitcs for kind- ling a fire, unlefs your provifions confifts of cold meat. In this laft ftage is a mine of cope, a kind of mineral tar, great quantities of which, for its cheapnefs, are carried to Callas, and other parts, being ufed in Ihips inftead of naphtha, but has the ill quality of burning the cordage. The city of Piura, which is at prefent the capital of its jurifdidion, was the firft Spanifh fcttlement in Peru. It was founded in the year 1531, by Don Francifco Pizarro, who alfo built the firft i:hurch in it. The latitude of it is 5 deg. 1 1 min. i fee. fouth. The houfes are either of bricks dried in the fun, or a kind of reeds called quinchas, and few of them have any ftory. Here the corregidor refides, whofe jurif- diftion extends in one fide along the Valles, and on the other among the mountains* It has a river of great by TO SOUTH AMERICA. 469 great advantage to the inhabitants, as well as the adja- cent country, the foil of which is fandy, and therefore cafier penetrated by the water •, and being level, the water is conveyed to dilFerent parts by canals ; but in the fummer the river is abfolutely deltitute of water, the little which defcends from the mountains b .ng abforbed before it reaches the city ; fo that the inha- bitants have no other method of procuring water, but by digging wells in the bed of the river. On the 2 1 ft our artifts continued their journey, and next day reached the town of Sechura, ten leagues diftant from Piura. The whole country between thefc two places is a level fandy defart, and greatly fatiguing to the mules. The town of Sechura is the laft in the jurifdidion of Piura; and its iniiabitants not only refufe to furnifh paflengers with mules, but alfo will not fufFer any perfon, of whatever rank, to continue his journey, without producing the corregidor's paflport. The in- tention of this ftridnefs is to fupprefs all abufes in trade •, for there being befide this road which leads to the defart, only one called the Rodeo, one of them muft be taken -, if that of the defart, mules muft be hired at Sechura to carry water for the uie of the load- ed mules when they have performed half their jour- ney. On the 24th they left Sechura, and crofled the de- fart, making only fome Ihort ftops for the eafe of their beafts, arnving the next day at five in the evening at the town of Monope, twenty-eight or thirty leagues diftant from Sechura, though falfcly computed more by the natives. The extent and uniform afped of this plain, together with the continual motion of the fand, which foon elTaces all tracks, often bewilders the moft experienced guides, who however Ihew their Ikill in foon recovermg the right way •, for which they make ufe of two expedients : the firft is to obferve to keep the wind diredtly in their faces, and the reverfe at their return y for the fouth winds being conftant H h 3 here. 47© DON ULLOA's VOYAGE here, this rule cannot deceive them : the fecond is, to take up a handful of fand at different diftances, and fmell to it i for as the excrements of the mules im- pregnate the fand more or lefs, they determine which is the true road by the fcent of the fand. Thofe who are not well acquainted with thefe parts, expofe them- felves to great dangers, by flopping to reft or fleep ; for when they again fet forward, they find themfelves unable to determine the right road ; and when they have once loft their true direflion, it is a remarkable inftance of providence if they do not perilh either with fatigue or diftrefs, of which there are many melan- choly inftances. .- . •-•• Near Monope runs a river called Pozuelos, fubjedl to the fame changes as thofe above mentioned ; and the inftinft of the beafts ufed to this road is furprifing, for even at the diftance of four leagues they fmell its water, and become fo impatient that it is difficult to *ftop them -, and perform the remainder of the journey with remarkable chearfulnefs and difpatch. From Monope they travelled to Lambayeque j from thence through Payjan to Chocope -, and with- out flaying any longer at Chocope than is ufual for refting the beafts, they continued their journey, and arrived at the city of Truxillo, eleven leagues ^iftant. ■ " This city was built in the year 1535 by Don Fran- cifco Pizarro, in the valley of Chimbo. Its fitu- ation is pleafant, notwithftanding the fandy foil, the univerfal defeat of all the towns in Valles. It is fur- rounded by a brick wall, and its circuit entitles it to be claflbd among cities of the third order. It ftands about half a league from the fea ; and two leagues to the northward of it is the port of Guanchaco, the channel of its maritime commerce. The houfes make a creditable appearance. The generality are of bricks, decorated with ftately balconies, and fuperb porticos, but the other of baxareques. Both are however built |pw op account of the frequent earthquakes 5 few have TO SOUTH AMERICA. 471 fo much as one (lory. The corregidor of the whole department refides in this city. . In this climate there is a fenfible difference between winter and fummer, the former being attended with cold, and the latter with exceffive heat. The country of this whole valley is extremely fruitful, fo that the inhabitants enjoy not only a plenty of all kinds of provifions, but alfo make confiderable exports to Pa- nama, cfpecially of wheat and fugars. About a league from the city is a river, whofe waters are conduced by various canals through this delightful country. They forded it on the 4th when they left Truxillo ; and on the 5th, after paffmg through Moche, came to Biru, ten leagues from Truxillo. >r On the 6th they halted in a defart place called Tambo de Chao, and afterward came to the banks of the river Santa -, which having paffed by means of the Chimbadores, they entered the town of the fame name, which lies at about a quarter of a league from it, and fifteen from Biru ; the road being chiefly over vaft fandy plains, intercepted between two hills. The river Santa, at the place where it is ufually forded, is near a quarter of a league in breadth, form- ing five principal ftreams, which run during the whole year with great rapidity. It is always forded, and for this purpofe perfons make it their bufinefs to attend with very high horfcs, trained up to ftem the current, which is very ftrong. They are called Chimbadores ; and muft have an exadl knowledge of the ford, in or- der to guide the loaded mules in their paflage, as otherwife the ford'ng this river would be fcarce pradi- cable, the floods often fhifting the beds of the river, fo that even the Chimbadores themfelves are not al- ways fafe. Leaving this town on the 8th, they proceeded on their journey, and palled through feveral places of no confiderable note -, and without meeting with any thing worth remarking, until they had ac length the pleafure of entering the city of Lima. H h 4 From 472 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE From the diftanccs carefully fct down during the whole courfe of this journey, it appears, that from Tumbcz to Piura is 62 leagues -, from Piura to Trux- illo 89, and from Truxillo to Lima 113 ; in all 264 leagues. The greatett part of this long journey is ge- nerally performed by night j for the whole country being one continued fand, the refledtion of the fun*s rays is fo violent, that were they to travel by day, the mules would be overcome by the heat, want of water, and herbage. Thi' city of Lima is fituated in the ipacious and de- lightful valley of Rimac, an Indian word, and the true name of the city itfelf, from a corrupt pronun- ciation of which word the Spaniards have derived Lima. Rimac is the name by which both the valley and the river are ilill called. This appellation is de- rived from an idol to which the native Indians ufed to offer facrifice; as did alfothe incas, after they had ex- tended their empire hither : and as it was fuppofed to return anfwers to the prayers addrcflcd to it, they called it by way of diftindtion Rimac, or, he who fpeaks. Lima, according to feveral obfervations made by our artifts for that purpofe. Hands in the latitude of 1 2 deg, 2 min. 3 fee. fouth j and its longitude is 60 deg. 32 min. 58 fee. weft, from the meridian of Tenerifte. Its fnuation is one of the moft advantageous that can be imagined ; for being in the centre of that fpa- cious valley, it commands the whole without any difficulty. Is^orthward, though at a confiderable dis- tance, is the Cordillera, or chain of the Andes 5 from whence fome hills projeft into the valley, the neareft of which to the city are thofe of St. Chriftopher and Amancaes. - v. - , . ^ The river, which is of the fame name, wafHes th^ walls of Lima, and when not increafed by the torrents from the mountains is eafily forded ; but at other times, befide the increafe of its bi e, dth, its depth and rapidity render fording impoflible : accordingly a very elegant and fpacious done bridge is built over it, hav-ing TO SOUTH AMERICA. 473 having on one end a gate, the beautiful architefture of which is equal to the other parts of this ufcful , ftrudlure. This gate leads to the grand fquare, which is very large and finely ornamented. The form of the city is triangular, the bafe or long- ed fide extending along the banks of the river. Its length is 1 920 toifes, or exactly two thirds of a league. Its greateft breadth from north to fouth, that is, from thj bridge to the angle oppofite to the bafe, is ic8o toifes, or two fifths of a league. It is furrounded with a brick wall, which anfwers its original intention, but is without any manner of regularity. On the fide of the river oppofite to the city is a fuburb, called St. Layaro, which has, within thefe few years, greatly increafed, All the ftreets of this fuburb, like thofe of the city, are broad, parallel, or at right-angles, fome running from north to fouth, and others from eaft to weft, forming fquares of houfes, eaci^i50 yards in front, the ufual dimenfions of all thefi^ quadras or fquares in this country, whereas thofe of Quito are only 100. The ftreets are paved, and along them runs ftreams of water, condu6ted from the river a little above the city ; and being arch- ed over, contribute to its cleanlinefs, without the leafl: inconveniency. The houfes, though for the moft part low, are commodious, and make a good appearance. They are all of baxareque, and quincha, that they may the better fupport themfelves under the fhocks of the earthquakes, of which this city has had fo many dreadful inftances: but appear to be compofed of more folid materials, both with regard to the thick- nefs of the principal walls, and the imitation of Cor- nices on them. All the churches, both conventual and parochial, and alfo the chapels, are large, and conftruded partly of ftone, and adorned with paintings and other iecorations of great value ; particularly the cathe* ^ralj the churches of St. Dominic, St. Francis, Su Auguftine, 474 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE Auguftine, the fathers of mercy, and that of the Jefuits, are fo fplendidly decorated, as to furpafs de- fcription •, an idea being only to be formed by the fight. One of the moft dreadful difafters attending the city of Lima is the earthquakes, to which that coun- try is fo fubjed, that the inhabitants are under conti- nual apprehenfions of being, from their fuddennefs and violence, buried in the ruins of their own houfcs. Thefe terrible concufTions of nature are not regular, either with regard to their continuance or violence •, but the interval between them is never of fufficient length to obliterate the remembrance of their fright- ful confequences* Thefe earthquakes, though fo fudden, have their prefages, one of the principal of which is a rumbling noife in the bowels of the earth, about a minute be- fore the fhock is felt -, nor does this noife continue in the place where it began, but feems to pervade to all the adjacent fubterraneous parts. This Vt followed by difmal bowlings of the dogs, which fecm to have the firft perception of the approaching danger. The beads of burden pafTing the ftreets, (lop, and by na- tural inftinft fpread open their legs, the better to pre- vent their falling. On thefe prefages the terrified in- habitants fly from their ho jfe:- into the ftreets,- with fuch precipitation, that, if the calamity happens in the night, they appear quite naked ; fear and the ur- gency of the danger banifhing at once all fenfe of de- cency. Nor does this end with the fhock, none ven- turing to return to their houfes through fear of a re- petition, which frequently demolifhes thofe buildings which had been weakened by the firft. One of the moft dreadful concufTions of nature felt by this unfortunate city happened on the 20th of Oc- tober 1687. Another, and ftill more dreadful fhock, happened on the 28th of Oftober 1 746, at half an hour after ten at night i the concufTions began with fuch violence, ' that TO SOUTH AMERICA. 475 that in little more than three minutes the greateft part, if not all the buildings, great and fmall in the whole city, were deftroyed, burying under their, ruins thole inhabitants who had not made fufficient hade into the ftreets and fquares -, the only places of fafety in thefc terrible convulfions. The fort of Calloa, at the very fame hour, funk into the like ruins •, but what it fufFered from the earthquake in. its buildings, was inconfiderable, when compared to the terrible cata- llrophe which followed : for the fca, receding to a confiderable diftance, returned in mountainous waves, foaming with the violence of the agitation, and fuddenly turned Callao and the neighbouring country into a fea ; nothing remaining except a piece of the wall of the fort of Santa Crux, as a me- morial of this terrible devaftation. There were then twenty-three fhips and velfels, great and fmall, in the harbour, of which nineteen were abfolutely funk, and the other four, among which was a frigate called St. Fermin, carried by the force of the waves to a confi- derable diftance up the country. This terrible inundation extended to other ports on the coaft, as Cavallos and Guanape •, and the towns of Chancay, Guaura, and the valleys della Beranca, Sape, and Pativilca, underwent the fame fate as the city of Lima. The number of perfons who perilhed in the ruins of that city, before the 31ft of the fame month of Odober, according to the bodies found, amounted to 1 300 ; befides the maimed and wounded, many of which only lived a fhort time in torture. At Callao, where the number of inhabitants amounted to about 4000, two hundred only efcaped, and twenty- two of thefe by means of the above-mentioned frag- ment of a wall. From thefe terrible devaftations, added to another particular, that of never raining, the reader would be naturally led to think that the country muft, of necef- fity, be totally barren : the contrary U however true ; for Lima enjoys a fertility to be envied, producing all kind3 476 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE kinds of grain, and a prodigious variety of fruics. Hetc indultry and art fupply that moifture which the clouds feem to wich-hold ; and the foil is by this means rendered rcnurkably fruitful, amidft a continual drought. One of the principal cares of the incas, was the cutting and difpofing, in the moft advantageous man- ner, trenches or fmall canals, in order to condudt the waters of the rivers to nourilh every part, and render large fields capable of producing grain. The Spa- niards finding thele ul'eful works ready executed to their hands, took care to keep them in the fame order ; smd by thefe are watered the fpacious fields of wheat and barley, large meadows, plantations of fugar- canes, and olive-trees, vineyards and gardens of all kinds i all yielding uncommon plenty. Lima differs from Q}.iito, where the fruits of the year have no de- terminetl leafons ; but here the harvcfts are gathered in, and the trees drop their leaves, according to their lelpeftive natures. The country contiguous to the city is covered with gardens, producing all the herbs and fruits known in Spain, and of the fame goodnefs and beauty, befides thole common to America. The foil is ftony and ^dy. The arable lands i ave a ftratum of about a foot or two of earth, but below that the whole confifts entirely of ilones. From this circumftance, the fimi- larity of all the neighbouring walles, and the bottom of the fea, this whole fpace may be concluded to have been formerly covered by the ocean, to the diftance ©f three or four leagues, or even farther, beyond its prefent limits. The rocks in the moft inland part of the bay arc perforated, and fmoothed like thofe wafhed by the waves ; a fufficient proof that the fea formed thofe large cavities, and undermined fuch prodigious ipaflcs as lie on the ground by its continual clifions ; and it lecnis natural to think that the like muft have hap- pened in the country contiguous to Lima, and that ri.:.. .; ;. ■ |-'" . ■ "''" " the TO SOUTH A' ERICA. 477 J re ivc the parts, confifting of pebbles ike .liofe ^.t the bot- tom of the adjacent fea, were fonncray co'/crcd by the water. Another fingularlty in this arid counfry, i abundance of fprings, water being found every with little labour, by digging only about four c feet below the furface. The lands in the jurifdidion of Chancay, like the other parts of the coafts of Peru, are manured with the dung of certain fea-birds, which abound here in a very extraordinary manner. Thefe they call Guanoes, and the dung Guano, the Indian name for excre- ment in general. Thefe birds, after fpending the whole day in catching their food in the fea, repair at night to reft on the illands near the coaft -, and their number being fo great as entirely to cover tlic ground, they leave a proportionable quantity of ex- crement or dung; this is dried by the heat of the fim into a cruft, and is daily increafing, fo that notwith- ftanding great quantities are taken away, it is never exhaufted. This is the manure ufed in the fields fow- ed with maize, and with proper watering is found greatly to fertilize the foil, a little of it being put clofe to every ftem, and immediately watered. It is alfo of ufe in fields of other grain, efept wheat and barley, and confequently prodigious quantities of it yearly ufed in agriculture. One aftonilhing particular in the walls of this town, and in all other neighbouring valleys, is, that thongh built on the furface of the earth, without any founda- tion, they have withftood thofe violent earthquakes which overthrew the more folid buildings of Lima, and other large towns ereded in the Spanilh manner ; having received no other damage than what naturally refults from being; forfaken, or what the drivers have ' done, who make it a refting- place for tht^ir cattle in their road to Lima. During our artifts ftay at Lima, they laboured in- ceflantly to put the country in the beft pofture of de- r fence 47$ DON ULLOA's VOYAGE fence poflible, that in cafe the Englifh fquadron, un- der the command of commodore Anfon, which was then cxpcdbed in the South Teas, (hould make an at^ tack, it might be rendered abortive. At the lame time four men of war were fent to cruifc off the coaft of Chili, and vKit the ifland of Juan Fcrnandes, * in order to attack the Englifh fqua- dron, at their firft appearance in the South leas. But after cruifing there a confiderable time, they returned to Callao, without receiving the leaft information of any foreign Ihips having been feen in ihofe feasj and immediately applied themfelves to finilh their menfuration of an arch of the meridian. But before they had finilhed their work, an exprefs arrived at Qiiito, with th'j particulars of the Englifh having taken fcveral rich prizes in the South-feas, and alfo facked the town of Paira. Our artifts therefore returned immediately to Lima, where they were ap- pointed commanders of two frigates fitted out for cruifers on the coaft of Chili. The kingdom of Chili is celebrated for its fertility. Its plains, eminences, valleys, in fliort the whole country, is an object of admiration ; for fo amazing is the fertility, that every parcel of earth feems tranf- formed into a feed. It is therefore no wonder that many of the inhabitants apply themfelves to hufban- dry, as they are fure of a good mavket at the fcveral ports of the South-fea. This kingdom alfo abounds in mines of all kinds, particularly in thofe of gold and copper. The manner of carrying on the comnrierce of this kingdom is nearly the fame with that of other na- • The Spaniards left the ifland only a few days before commo- dore Anfon's arrival; which fortunate accident prevented his falling into their hands ; as his (hip's company were t^en fo terribly a'- flidled with the fcurvy, that they could not have made any refinance : as may be feen in commodore Anfon's voyage, inferted in the third vqImwc of this work* .^i'S - ^r tionsi ly" TO SOUTH AMERICA. 479 tionsj but the manner of conducing the inland trade, with the Indians of Arauco, is too remarkable to be omitted. The Indians of Arauco, and thofc parts, are not governed by caciques, or curacas, like thofe of Peru, the only fubordination known among them being with regard to age ; ib that the oldcft perfon of the family is refpcded as its governor. The Spaniard begins his nfgociation with offering the chief of the family a cup of wine ; after this he difplays his wares, that the Indian may make choice of what beft pleafes him i mentioning at the fame time the return he ex- perts. If they agree, the Spaniard makes him a pre- lent of a little wine; and. the Indian chief informs the community that they are at liberty to trade with that Spaniard as his friend. Relying on this protect tion, the Spaniard goes from hut to hut, recommend- ing himfelt* at firft by giving the head of every fami- ly a tafte of his wine. After this they enter upc . bufinefs •, and the Indian having taken what he want- ed, the trader goes away without receiving any equi- valent at that time, and vifits the other huts, as they lie difperfed all over the country, till he has difpgfed of his flock. He then returns to the cottage of the chief, calling on his cuflomers in his way, and ac- quainting them that he is on his return home. Upon this fummons not one fails of bringing to him at the chief's hut what had been agreed on. Here they take their leave of him, with all the appearance of a fincere friendfhip •, and the chief even orders fome In- dians to efcort him to the frontiers, and afTifl him in driving the cattle he has received in exchange for his goods. Formerly, and even till the year 1724, thofe traders carried large quantities of wine, of which as well as all other inebriating liquors the Indians are immode- rately fond : but this trade, through the intemperate ufe of fpirituous liquors, bred tumults and wars, wiiic^h began without an^ Qther deglaratign than the ^ . :. malTacre 4!?o DON ULLOA's VOYAGE maffacre of the Spaniards of all ranks who fell into their hands, and even the traders in their country. This branch of trade has therefore been fupprefled, and no more allowed to be carried into the Indian territories than what (hall be judged neceflary to give the mafters of families a cup by way of compliment, and a very fmall quantity for trading. The happy cffedts of this prohibition are felt on both fides ; the Spaniards live in fafety, and the Indians in peace and tranquillity. The Indians of Arauco, Tucapel, and others in- habiting the fouthcrn parts of the river Biobio, and alfo they who live near the Cordillera, have hitherto eluded all attempts made for reducing them under the Spanifli government. For in this boundlefs coun- try, as it may be called, when ftrongly puihed, they abandon their huts, and retire into more diftant parts ; v^here being joined by other nations, they return in fuch numbers that all refiftance would be temerity, and again take poflefTion of their former habitations. Thefe Indic^n wars againd the Spaiards ufually con- tinue Ibme years, being of little detriment to the In- dians-, for moil of titeir occupations, which confift in the culture of a fmall fpot of ground, and weaving ponchos and cloaks for apparel, are carried on by the women. Their huts are built in a day or two, and their food confifts of roots, maize, and other grainu War therefore is no impediment or lofs to them ; in- deed they rather confider it is a defirable occupation, their hours at other times being fpent in idlenefs, or caroufals. - ^ > The firft advances toward a treaty of peace with thcfc Indians are generally made by the Spaniards j and as foon as the propofals are agreed to, a congrefs is held, at which the governor, major-geners^l-iOf Chili, and the principal officers, the bifhop of Con- ception, and other perfons of eminence, affift. On the part of the Indians, tcqui, or generaliffimo, and the captains of his army, as reprefentatives of the communitiesj. repair to the cong,refs, Befide TO SOUTH AMERICA. 481 Befide the congrefles held with thefe Indians, for concluding a treaty of peace, others are held on the arrival of a new prefident, and the fame ceremo- nies obfcrved in both. On thefe occafions a kind of fair is held at both camps, great numbers of Spaniards repairing thither with fuch goods as they know will pleafe the Indians; who alfo come with their ponchos and cattle. Both parties deal by exchange, and never fail felling their whole (locks ; or of obferving in their dealings the mod exa(5t candour and regularity, ar. a fpecimen in which all future commerce is to be conducted. Soon after our artifts arrived in the bay of Concep- tion, they joined the Efperanza, a Spanifh man of war, commanded by Don Pedro Mendinueta, who had found means to double Cape Horn, and reach the bay of Conception. In a few days they received ad- vice that Don Jofeph Pizarro was arrived over land from Buenos Ayres, and intended to hoift his flag on board the Efperanza. On which they failed for Val- paraifo, where the commodore came on board, and took upon him the command of the fquadron. In this port they found three French Ihips, called the Louis Erafme, Notredame de la Deliverance, and the Lys, which had been freighted as regifter-ftiips, and touched at Valp?,raifo to vend their cargoes. The whole fleet now failed for the ifland of Juan Fernandes, and thence to Callao, where they arrived on the 24th of June. » Our artifts now repaired once more to Quito, where they finiftied their oblervations, and then returned to Lima, in order to procure a paflJage from thence to Spain. They found at Callao two of the French fli^ps above-mentioned, namely the Deliverance and the Lys, preparing for a voyage to Europe. This was an opportunity not to be omitted j and accordingly Don George Juan embarked in the latter, and Don Antonio de Ulloa in the former. Vol. I. I i ' They 482 DON ULLOA*s VOYAGE - They left the portof Callao on the sad of Odlober, and on the 2 2d of November joined the Louis Erafme, which with another French regifter-fhip, called the Marquis d'Antln, had waited for tliem in the bay of • Conception. Their little fquadfon being thus form- ed, they left the bay; but the next clay the Lys fprung a leak, and was obliged to retxirn. The reft of the fquadron had the good fortune to double Cape Horn, without meeting with thofe terrible ftorms fo frecjuent near that Cape. iv.^ j ; • . j.i v ' * On the 21ft of May 1744, they came to an anchor in the road of Ferdinando de Narona, an ifland on the coaft of Brazil, belonging to the Portuguefe. Here they refitted their crazy fhips, and took on board a frelh fupply of provifions, wood and water. On the 1 oth of June, at ten in the morning, they again got under fail, and continued their courfe to the north- ward, comforting theml'elves that now the whole dan- ger of their voyage was over. But on the 21 11: of July, about fix in the morning, being then in 43 deg. ^y min. north latitude, and 39 deg. 44 min. eaft of the meridian of Conception, they difcovered two fail within three leagues of them, bearing E. N. E. At feven in th.c morning, when being within little more than cannon-fhot of each other, the largeft of the two fired a fhot, and at the fame time both hoifted Englirti colours : the French frigates alfo formed a line, thjough little in a condition for fighting ; for be- ■fide beine weakly manned, and the vyant of arms and ammunition, they had no nettings for fecuring the men. The force of the three French frigates was this : the Louis Erafme carried twenty guns, and had be- tween feventy and eighty perfons on board, feamen, pafTengers and boys -, the Marquis d'Antin, alfo car- ried ten guns on a fide, and had aboard fifty-five per- fons ; La Deliverance was llill fmaller than the other , two, having only feven on a fide, and all the perfons aboard did not exceed fifty men. ■ * .. \ . ": The TO SOUTH AMERICA. 483 ' The enemy, \vho afterward proved to be priva- teers, were confiderably fuperior in force. The largeft of them, called the Prince Frederick, commanded by captain James Talbot, carried thirty-fix guns; the name of the fmalleft privateer was the Duke, captain Morecock ; fhe had ten guns on a fide, befide pate- reroes on both, which. did great execution in the rig- ging. At length, about half an hour after ten,, the Marquis d'Antin, which was in the rear, ftruck to the largeft of the enemy, with which flie was en- gaged, after lofing her captain : having received fo many {hot betwixt wind and water, that fhe was Of^ the point of finking. ..;i.i ,» , , .' The captain of the Deliverance, which was the headmoft fliip, feeing one of her company taken, pru- dently crouded fail, that while the enemy's fhips were taken up with the prize, he might efcape from them. Louis Erafme could > not hefitate to follow her ex- ample ; but the largeft of the Englifti privateers was ;K)t long in coming up with her, and by the fuperio- rity of her force, and the vigour with which it was exerted, foon laid her under a neceflity of furrender- ;ng. The two privateers being taken up each with her prize, and the fouth-caft wind freftiening, favour- ed the efcape of the Deliverance, which ftood N. E. arid at four in the evening got quite out of fight both of the privateers and prizes. ' * The captain of the Deliverance, after this, in all appearance, fortunate efcape, confulted with his of- ficers what courfe was moft advifeable to fteer. Among them was one who had often been at Louil^ bourg in the ifland of Cape Breton, neir Newfound- iand, and had a perfed knowledge of the fituafion and nature of the place. He likewife informed the captain, that in the beginning of the fummer two men of war w^re every year fent thither, to car'-y mo- ney and troops for that place and Canada ; and like- wife to proteft the cod-fiftiery. Thefe reafons, and ^his courfe appearing lefs dangerous than thiat toward ^.^ I i 2 the 4^4 DON ULLOA's VOYAGE the coaft of Spain, determined the captain to pur- fue what he thought the fafeft method, and make for Cape Breton : befide, the condition of the De- liverance fcarce permitted of any choice, as affording little hopes that fhe ever would be able to reach any port in Spain. But that the captain and his officers might not be charged with taking fuch an important ftep of themfelves, a reprefentation was alfo made to the pa(IJ;ngers, who all readily approved of it as the bcft refource in their prefent exigency *, the very fame evening; the courfe was altered, and they fteercd for Louifbourg as a port of fafety. On the 13th of Auguft, at fix in the morning, they faw a brigantine plying along the coaft for Louilbourg-, the Deliverance on this hoifted a French enfign, which was anfwered by the other, firing two or three guns. This gave them no manner of uneafinefs, concluding, that the brigantine, fufpeding fome deceit in their colours, had fired thofe guns as a warning to the fi(h- ing barks without to get into the harbour. An hour afterward, being near eight o'clock, they faw com- ing out of Louifbourg two men of war, which they immediately took for (hips belonging to a French fquadron ftationed there, for the ffcurity of that im- portant place J and that they had come out on this fignal from the brigantine, that a (hip had appeared in fight, left it might be fome Bofton privateer, with a defign on the filhery. Here we muft refer to the reader's imagination, the complacency and joy which fwelled every heart, imagining that they now faw the end of all their fears and difafters ; a place of lafe re- pofe, after a voyage of fuch danger and fatigue. Then let him think what an edge the melancholy difappoint- ment gave to their aftonilhment and dejeftion, when their vifionary fchemes of delight ended in the real miferies of captivity : that place being then in the hands of the Englilh. The fmalleft veflcl, which carried fifty guns, lead- ing the way, came along- fide of the Deliverance •, then. . V indeed, lev liar on fift; tail TO SOUTH AMERICA. 4S5 indeed the fatal difappointment became too evident, by the (hip hoifting her national (jolourt, and firing feveral guns, which carried away the fore topfail-hal- liards •, and at the fame time the larger fhip came up on the (larboard- fide. Betwixt two fuch enemies rc- fiftance would have been a wild temerity •, the cap- tain immediately (truck his colours, and the boat from the fmalleft (hip came on board, and took pof- fe(rion of the Deliverance •, and returned into the har- bour with a very rich prize. Thefe two Englifli men of war were the Sunder- land, captain John Brett, of fixty guns, and the Chefter, captain Philip Durell, of fifty. Don Ulloa adds, that all his fecret papers, on their departure from the iQand of Fernando de Norona, were formed into a packet, and that he had defired of the captain, the fupercargo and other o(ficers, that in cafe it was his fate to fall fuddenly in the a6lion, they would throw the parcel into the fea. When there- fore the Spanifti officer found that there was no pofli- bility either of oppofmg or getting clear of the ene- my, he threw the packet overboard, after fattening fome bullets to it ; but all his papers relating to the menfuration of the degrees of the meridian, together with the phyfical and aftronomical obfervations and hiftorical narratives, he kept by him, the contents being of univerfal concern, and no detriment could refult from the enemy's infpeding them. But a^ among men who feemed to mind nothing but what was filver or gold, they would have ran a great ri(k of being abuled or confounded among a multitude of others, he thought proper to acquaint the captains on what fervice he had been employed ; and as his papers tended to the improvement of navigation, re- commended them to their care. Don Ulloa was Tent with the fleet to England, and thence to Fareham, a pleafant village at the bottom of Portfmouth harbour, where the prifoners of war were then confined. " I muft not, fays Don Ulloa I i 2 '* here <« cc '4M bON ULLOA's VOYAGE *« hete omit the Gourtefy and generofity of captairt " Brett, Gommander of the Sunderland, to all the ** prifoners of any rank, whom he not only admitted " to his table during the voyage, but prevailed on all *' the other officers to imitate his good example ; and who feerped to vie in civilities toward us, and ' humanity toward the inferior fort : fparing fof nothing to alleviate our misfortunes." Our author was committed to the care of Mr. Brookes, commifTiry for the French prifoners, and paints his gratitude for the many favours he received from that gentleman -, and alfo from Mr. Rickman, who a6led in the fame capacity for the Spaniards, in the mod glowing colours. " Both thefe gentlemen, adds he, offered to join *' their intereft in folliciting the admiralty for my pa- *' pers, the thing I had moll at heart." A petition was scccrdingly fent to his grace the duke of Bedford, then firft lord of the a Imiralty, and the anfwer re- turned was r';2,rceablr^ to his wiQies : the lords of the admiralty adding, tuit they were not at war with the arts and fciences, or their profeflbrs ; that the Eng- lilh nation cultivated them, nnd that it was the glory of its minifters and great men to encourage and pro- teftthem. * • Soon after our author obtained pcrmifTion to repaif to London, that he might renew his follicitations with greater eafe and effc6t. " On my firft attendance at *' the office for prifoners of war, fays Don Ulloa, a *' letter was (hewn me from lord Harrington, fecretary ** of (late, for bringing me to his hoiifc. This noble- man, having been ambafTador for fome years in Spain, among his other eminent qualities, had a great affedion fcr t'.e Spaniards, which he was pleafed to extend to me in a mcft obliging recep- tion, and affurances, that nothing (hould be want- ing in him to procure me my papers, or do me any other good office. Martin Folkes, Efq-, then pre- ** fident of the Royal Society, a perfon equally dif- ;5' tinguifhcd cc «c «c n <( cc cc TO SOUTH AMERICA. 4?7 " tingiiifhed for his learning, politenefs, ami readinefs to do every good aition in his power, being in- (( (( formed I wd3 a prilbncr at Fareham, and that my papers were lodged at tlu; a- 496 REMARKS ON THE TRADE ' only a farm, of which they were to make prefently the moll they could. All who are in any degree acquainted with the hif- tory of Europe, know, that for a long courfe of years Spain maintained wars in Flanders, Germany, Italy, and fometimes in Ireland, which created a prodigious expence of treafure and of troops •, neither of which, from the death of Charles V. they were in any con- dition to fpare. As families were reduced by the ex- pence of ferving in the army, they were inclined to feek new fortunes in the Weft Indies : and thus num- bers went over thither, not to cultivate the country, or to improve trade, but to ftrip and plunder thofe who were there before them. Other great families again concurred with the meafures of the crov/n, in hopes of viceroyalties, and other valuable offices in its conquefts : but if ever their fchemes were bene- ficial to their families, which may admit of doubt, certain it is that they contributed more and more to the ruin of the Spanifli nation. For, though his ca- tholic majefty once polTefled Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, Milan, with other territories in Italy, befide all the Low Countries, and fome other provinces which are now loft ; yet, for want of attending to commerce, and by having no fort of oeconomy, all this turned to his prejudice-, and it plainly appeared toward the clofe of the laft century, that with all their boafted iagacity and firmnefs, the Spaniards had ruined them- felves by acquiring too great power-, and rendered themfelves beggars by mifufing their immenfe riches. "With fwelling titles and wide dominions, they were defpicably weak, and fcarce any but copper money was to be feen in a country, which received above twenty millions annually from its plantations. Before this topic is quitted, we muft take notice of another thing, which is certainly very extraordi- nary. This wrong turn in the Spanifh policy had a wonderful effedt -, it made all the enemies of that na- tion richj and all its friends poor. Every body knows X '■' ' that 'W- * Between SPAIN and the WEST INDIES. 497 that the United Provinces not only made themfelve$ free and independent, but rich and powerful alfo, by their long war with Spain. Our maritime power was owing to the fame caufe. If Philip II. had not dif- turbed Queen Elizabeth,, our fleet might have been as inconfiderable at the clofe of her reign as it was at the beginning, when wc were peftered with pirate$ even in the narrow feas. Our plantations abroad were in a great meafure owing to expeditions againft the Spaniards : and our manufadures at home were the confequence of affording refuge to the king of Spain's Proteftant fubjefts. By fo long a feries of mifmanagement the Spaniards have brought their affairs into fo wretched a fituation, that they neither have, nor can have any very great benefit from their vaft dominions in America. They are faid to be ftewards for the reft of Europe •, their galleons bring filver into Spain, but neither vvifdom nor power can keep it there : it runs out fafter than it comes in, infomuch that the little canton of Bern is really richer, and has more credit, than the king of Spain, notwithftanding his Indies. At iirft fight this leems to be ftrange and incredible ; but when we come to examine it, the myftery is by no means im- penetrable. The filver and rich commodities which come from the Indies, come not for nothing, (the king's duties excepted) and very little of the goods or manufafturcs for which they come, belong to the fubjeds of the crown of Spain. It is evident, there- fore, that the Spanifti merchants are but factors, and that the greateft part of the returns from tht Weft Indies, belong to thofe for whom they nego- tiate. The very probity of the Spanifh merchants is de- ftruftive to their country ; for, as they are never known to betray their truft, conlequently the foreign- ers who make ufe of their names to cover their com- merce in the Indies, reap the intire advantage of the high price at which their goods fell. All then that relts in Spain is the filver and gold on the king's ac- Vol. I. K k count, 498 REMARKS ON THE TRADE count, the profit upon fuch goods as were aftually fent by Spanifh merchants, and the commiflions which Spanifh faftors receive : all befide is prefently drawn away. r , A great part of their troops, and at leaft a moiety of their officers, are foreigners ; who fend their effefts away, if ever they are fo happy as to have any. The frcateft part of the artizans, pedlars, and fmall fhop- eepers, are Frenchmen or Italians ; who either retire in the decline of life, or leave what they are worth to relations in their own country. Nay, the very la- bourers and harveft-people come thither annually by thoufands out of the provinces of France next to Spain i and when they have done their bufinefs, and received their wages, go home again till the next year. Whenever the galleons are itopt, and thereby the fupplies from America cut off for one or more years, it is eafy to difcern what troubles and diftrefles this muft occafion, and what irremediable evils fuch difappointments bring along with them : for, as thefe never fall out but in time of war, an increafe of ex- pence meets with a deficiency of funds, and thofe who are at the head of affairs have at once both thefe op- pofite mifchiefs to deal with. The methods taken by his moil catholic majefty for effedlually fecuring the commerce of his American dominions to the inhabitants of Old Spain, is the grand fource of the little refpedt paid him in the Indies, and of the great weaknefs of his government at home. The inhabitants of the Spanifh America confider gold and filver as commodities which they have, and would willingly barter for other commo- dities which they have not. It feems therefore to tliefe people a great hardfhip, that either proper care is not taken to furniih them with what ihey want from Spain, or that they fhould not be allowed to fupply thcmfelves fome other way. The native Spaniards, who have the government of the Indies intirely in their hands, treat iuch complaints with the haughti- li^i's natural to that nation, v/hich renders them uni- verfally ■45 *i:^GJ Between SPAIN and the WEST INDIES. 499 verfally odious and infupportable. Sir John Nar- borough tells us, the foldiers in garrifon at Baldivia had filver hiked fwords, and their officers gold ones ; and yet there was not a whole coat, or a good pair of fhoes amongft the corps. When people are in fuch a fituation, there need be no wonder at their endeavouring to carry on a clandeftine trade; as, on the other hand, one cannot think ic ftrange that their neighbours, who live under better governments, who have at cheap rates all that thefc Spaniards want, and yet Hand in need of the filver and gold with which they abound i Ihould be very willing to commence fuch an intercourfe as might fupply all their wants. Sometimes governors l>ave v/ inked at this, not from a principle of avarice on- ly, that they might fliare in the profits refulting from fuch a trade, but alfo from a fenfe of the ne- ceffity of difpenling with laws fo ill calculated as to deferve no refpedt. For, to be fure, that rule of juf- tice, which conneds the Spanilh plantations to Spain, requires that the government of Spain (hould have a reciprocal regard for thofe plantations ; and a negledt on one part infers a licence on the other. Upon this principle it was, that before the treaty of Utrecht, and the Afliento contrad, the Englifh at Jamaica furnifhed the Spaniards at Porto Bello with negroes, with the knowledge at leaft, if not by the permifiion of the governors. The inhabitants of Peru never could be without flaves. The government of Old Spain never could, indeed never attempted to fupply them, but permitted fometimes the Genoefe, fome- times the French, to carry on tvs trade: when they did not do it efFedually, the deficiency was made good by iiich a commerce as is before mentioned with the Englifti, though without any formal licence, but by a connivance, the lefs criminal for its being abfolutely neceffary. The fituation of the iQand of Jamaica, together with the convcniencies of building and freighting floops from thence, engaged the inhabitants in this, K k 2 anci : 500 REMARKS ON THE TRADE and in other branches of traffic. Such as fettle them- felves in thefe diftant parts of %he world, do it gene- rally from a fpirit of gain, and therefore the grand point with them is always how to get mod. They therefore for a long track of time, and by various methods, not neceflary to. be inAfted on here, fupplied the Spaniards at Carthagena, Porto Bello, Rio de 1^ Hacha^ and other places, with European commodi- ties of gll forts ; notwithftanding the mighty hazard they ran in the management of fo dangerous a bufi- nefs : their own lives, and thofe of their cuftomers, being alike expofed, and frequently forfeited to what the Spaniards call juftice. They likewife carried on a trade with the Indians of Darien, to their great pro- lit, but with equal rifk, for the Spaniards were wont to Ihew no mercy either to Englilh or Indians that fell into their hands. It feems, however, to be our intereft to put an end ' to this contraband trade, if thereby we could fecure effedually the friendlhip of Spain, and a due return of kindnefs in what regards the trade of Cadiz, and of the South Sea company. There is a certain pro- portion of our goods and manufadures neceflary to . the inhabitants of the Spanifh America, and which they will have fome way or other. Now it is certainly- preferable in refpcut to us, that they fliould have them in a fair, than in a clandeftine manner ; yet we ought not to be more tied up in this refped than the Dutch, who have as flourilhing a fair trade with Spain as we, ^nd yet are much the greater fmugglers of the two : which leads us to fpeak of their manner of carrying on this trade, which turns fo largely to their profit. The Hollanders, in 1632, difpoflefled the Spa- niards of three little iflands off the coaft of Venezuela, , ylz. Curasao, Bonnaire, and Aruba. All together . they are of very little confequence in refpe6t either to their extent or their produ6b, and yet the Dutch draw from them an immenle profit. Cura$;ao is not above ' feven leagues diftant from th^ Spanilh coaft : a more " . ■ . . conrenient Between SPAIN and the WEST INDIES. 501 convenient ftation cannot be wilhed for carrying on a clandeftine trade. It was firft introduced by the Tale of negroes brought thither by the Dutch from their numerous fettlements on the coaft of Guinea. Thefe the Spaniards formerly bought in a manner openly, and have tranfported in their own veflels fifteen hundred at a time ; but fince the Englilh from Jamaica have interfered in this trade, it is funk very confiderably ; though they ft ill fupply the neighbouring provinces. The dealers at Curajao, and their correfpondents in Holland, were too knowing, too converfant in bu- fmefs, to let the declenfion of the flave-trade rob them of the benefit of this ifland. In order to replace what was loft by the Englifti interfering with them, they built vaft magazines, and ftored them with all forts of Eu«"^pean goods, which had a very good effedV. In the firft place, it preferved to them the remainder of their flave-trade; for the Spaniards knowing that this of all others was moft winked at by their gover- nors, refolved to keep up a pretence of buying flaves, in order to have an opportunity of purchafing other things. Secondly, it tempted the Spaniards to run all hazards, that they might, at a reafonable price, obtain any fort of European merchandize they wanted, and that too whenever they pleafed. It is incredible what vaft fums have been annually traded for in this way. Befide, the inhabitants of Curafao, to keep up a good correfpondence with their neighbours, and, as far as poflible, to fix their affedlions, refufed to fuflfer any privateers to enter their ports, nor would vpon any terms purchafe their plunder; which at the fame time was publickly fold in Jamaica, where the privateers ufually fpent their money. This fpirit of felf-denial, however, did not hinder the traders of Curasao from direding the privateers to put into the ifland of St. Thomas, whither they inftantly fent floops with money, and agents on board them to pur- chafe v/hat the privateers had to fell, taking care to fend the effefls as foon as poflible to Europe, that the, 5 Spaniards I 502 REMARKS ON THE TRADE • Spaniards might have no intelligence of this contri- vance. ' ^ - . . In procefs of time, however, fome merchants devifcd anoiher way of carrying on the fame kind of (fommerce, by Ihips fent diredly from Europe to the Spanifli coafts. Thefe veflels were of fuch force, that thofe on board them flood in no fear of any precautions the governors could take i and, on the other hand, as their cargoes pafled immediately from their original owners to the Spaniards, they could be afforded con- fiderably cheaper than fuch as were configned to faftors in America. The method of trading was by a fignal from the ihips, or from the fhore. The long- boat was then fent off well manned, brought the mer- chants on board with their money, and carried them back with their goods. Thofe on board them chufe rather to fink than be taken; a very extraordinary kind of courage ; for which, however, it is not im- poffible to account ; and it may be ufeful, as well as pleafant, to enter into the particulars thereof. At the time one of thefe Ihips is fitting out, notice is given to all faiiors, that they may have an opportu- nity of entering, which they do with great alacrity, there being, generally fpeaklng, twice as many who offer themfelves as can be made ufe of. When the proprietors have their complement of picked feamen, they not only allow every man his proper cargo, to a certain value, but alfo furnifh it themfelves on credit at prime coft. By this means every private man on board becomes a proprietor ; and, if the (hip is at- tacked, fights for his own property : which is the reafbn that he will drown rather than part with it, and is one caufe why guarda-coftas are not over fond of meeting with thefe veffels, but choofe rather to prey on fair traders, who have fewer men, and are of lefs force. The little ifland of St. Thomas, which lies in the North feas, about fourteen leagues off Porto Rico, is ^e fole colpny ppffefled by the Danes in the Weft Indies J Between SPAIN and the WEST INDIES. 50^ Indies •, nor would it be worth the keeping, but as it alfo fervcs to maintain an illicit trade with the Spa- nifh iflands in its neighbourhood. In order to main- tain this correfpondence, they tranfport from the Danifli colonies in Africa a confiderable number of Haves for the fupply of Porto Rico, and of St. Do- mingo. Under colour of this trade, a commerce in European goods is carried on*, and we mayfifily difcern how hard the Spaniards are put to it for the neceflarics, or at lead the conveniencies of life, when we find them trading to a place which is a fr^e port to privateers and pirates of all nations •, who there vend openly, and in the very fight of the Spaniards, what is taken from them in the bafeft and moft bar- barous manner pofliblc : and yet fo tame are they, that they not only bear this with patience, but will even purchafe commodities from thefe very bucca- neers. Of late years other nations have made an ad- vantage of this free port, and keep warehoufes there of all forts of commodities, for the fervice of fiich cuftomers as will run the hazard of coming at them ; and in time of war the privateers never want a market in this place. ^^ The Portugueze at Rio Janeiro maintain alio a very beneficial correfpondence with their Spanifti neigh- bours. The goods with which they fupply them, arc fugars, indigo, tobacco, wines, brandies, and rums, with fome European goods, and fometimes flaves. The inhabitants of this colony arc far more induilrious than the reft of the Brazil planters ; and this gives them an opportunity of gaining confiderably by the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, and other places on the river Plata. Of late years the Spaniards are grown exceflively jealous of this colony. Befide thefe methods of trading, which we have hitherto Ipoken of, there is another common to all nations \ with the mention of which we Ihall con- clude. Ships frequently approach the Spanilh coafts under pretence of wanting water, wood, provifions. 504 REMARKS ON THE TRADE, Sec. Or more commonly, in order to ftop a leak. The firft thing that is done in fuch a cafe, is to give no- tice to the governor of their great diftrcls, and, as a full proof thereof, to fend a very confiderable pre- fcnt. By this means leave is obtained to come on Ihore, to ereft a warehoufc, and to unlade the (hip : but then all this is performed under the eye of the k'ng's officers, and the goods are regularly entered in a regifter as they are brought into the wareho'.ife, ■which when full, is Ihut up, and the doors fealed. All thefe precautions taken, the bufincfs is effeftually carried on in the night by a back-door •, and the Eu- ropean goods being taken out, indigo, cochineal^ vinellos, tobacco, and above all, bars of filver and pieces of eight are very exactly packed in the fame cafes, and placed as they flood before. Bvit then^^ that fuch as have bought may be able to fell publick- ]y, a new fcheme takes place. A petition is prefcnt^d to the governor, fetting forth the ftrangers want of money to pay for provifions, building the warehoufe^ timber for repairing the fhip, and a proportionable number of fuch like items •, in confideration of all which, leave is defired to difpofe of fome fmall part of their cargo, in order to difcharge thefe debts. This being obtained in the ufual manner, fomething of each fort of goods which had been privately fold, is now publickly brought to tnarket, and purchafed by thofe perfons refpedtively, who had larger quanti- ties in their warehoufes before. Thus the whole of this fcene (5f iniquity is tranfaded with all the formal folemnity which could attend an ad of juftice and compaffion. • . . ' • '. ^■■i to-. ^ l^ [ 505 ] SOME PARTICULARS l^ELAtlNO TO The Inhabitants of Patagonia. THE hXQ voyages to the South Seas having en- gaged the attention of the public, wc have infertcj the following particulars from a pamphlet faid to be wrote by an officer on board the Dolphin, The principal object worthy of general notice in this voyage, as publimcd, is a confirmation of the account formerly given by Magellan, of a gigantic people inhabiting the coaft of Patagonia : but with regard to its authenticity, time muft determine. Paflin^ over what the writer gives of the other parts of his voyage, which contain nothing ne wor enter- taining, we (haU obferve, that according to his account, when they left Rio de Janeiro, and the coaft of Brafil, on the 20th of Odober, 1764, bound, as they thought, for the Cape of Good Hope ; a fignal was made for the commander of the Tamer frigat? to come on board, where he and the fhip*s company were informed, that the commodore's or- ders were to go on difcoveries into the South Sea : a circumftance which, from the manner in which it was received, furnifhes the greatcft reafon to believe, that no one on boj^ird had before the leaft notion of the voyage in which they were now engaged.. But to prevent the appearance of difcontent, they were at the fame time acquainted with the intention of the government to allow them double pay, for their en- qouragiement in the profecution of the voyage. Vol. I. LI Nothing 5o6 PARTICULARS relating to . Nothing worthy of pblervation happened till the 27th of November, when after many hard gales of wind they made Cape Blanco, near the river Cajmaro- ries, in the latitude of 46° 50' fouth, and in the longitude of 72" 7' weft from London. After a few days fail they made Pengwin ifland, about three or four leagues to the fouthward of the harbour of Port Defirc, which lies in the latitude of 47'* 50' fouth. At this place they had very indifferent weather, at- tended with frequent ftiowcrs of rain, and there- fore fent their boats to found the harbour, which re- turned the fame evening. The next day they weighed in order to enter it •, but found it very rocky at its entrance, and not above a quarter of a mile over from fide to fide. Here they met with fuch a fudden and violent ftorm, that both thofe in the boats and thofe on board had no reafon to expcft ever getting off, as boih the wind and tide were againft them; but that they Ihould be obliged to live, or perhaps to perifh on this defart coaft of Patagonia, feveraJ hundred leagues to the fouthward of any European fettlement : but at length, their twelve-oared barge providentially drove into the harbour, by which means the fhip was preferved ; for without this af- fiftance flie muft have perifhed, they having no boat to carry out an anchor. During their ftay here, Ibme of the men were em- ployed in repairing the (hip's rigging, while others went afliore in fearch of frelh water, though without fuccefs, as there was but little to be found. The harbour itfelf is not much more than half a mile over. On the fouth fhore is a remarkable rock in the form of a tower, which appears on entering the harbour's mouth. A-breaft of this rock they lay at anchor, in feven or eight fathoms water, moored to the eaft and weft, with both bowers, which was found extreamly neceffary, on account of the ftrong tide that regularly ebbs and flows every twelve hours. It is alfo ncceffary to obfcrve, that the ground was i, * • . . * .- f^r the PATAGONtANS; 507 far trotn aOfording good anchorage •, for as it princi- pally confifts of iight fand, it is not to be depended upon ; and if one anchor Ihould Ilarr, while the tide is rulhing in, the ftiip would immediattjy take tlic ftiore, before the otiier anchors could polTibly bring her up. However, it may be fairly conjcci^ured, that tlierc is firmer an:horage farther up the harbour, cfpecially for a fliip that rccjuircs only a fmall draught of water. lie obfcrves that the country all around is intcr- fperfed with high craggy rocks, but between each precipice the ground is covered with coarfe grafs. The vallics form a barren comfortl^fs profpe^, in which there was nothin''; to entertain the fight, but great numbers of wild i)eafcs and b:rds, and many large heaps of bones that lie fcats'^red about, cfpeci- ally by the fide of every dream or water. Rut they faw not the lealt fign of the human fpc !cs. Though they found two or thrt iprings on the Ihore near the harbour, their n^in':raiqualiti> unfor- tunately prevented their bein*; o any ufe in fupply- ing the fliip with water ; and they could not even fir .i a quantity fufHcient for prefent ufe. On the fouth fhore the rocks are not fo numerous as on the north fide ; and there ^re more hills and deep vallies, bi.it they are covered only by high grafs, and a few fmall fhrubs. Hence this is but a bad place to touch at, by an> fliip that is under the necefiiry of wooding and wate»-jng. The commodore, in order to clear the ground of the overgrown grals, which •grew in great quantu ls, and alio to improve the foil, which appeared to be of a barren landy nature, gave orders for the grafs to be fct on fire in different places i whk'i was no fooner done, than the fiames ran fo fall, that in lefs than half an hour ihey fpread leveral miles round. Before their departure they funk two caflcs, one of them on the north fiiore from the place of anchorage, a-breall: of the rock, which is •in the form of a tower. The other calk was funk on L 1 2 the 5o8 PARTICULARS relating to fouth fhore, two miles and a half to the fouth fouth- wdl ot the Tower rock, and near a gentle declivity, on which they erected a poft twelve feet high from tiie ground, widi a piece of board nailed acrofs it by way of mark. At length, having equipped the Ihip for fea, and received proper ballad from the (hore, the fignal was made for failing. The crew were greatly refrelhed by the provifion they had met with here, they having the flefh of the guanacoes, or Peruvian (heep, ferved three times a week, which they found to be delicious fucd, and this doubtlefs contributed gready to their continuing in a good (late of health, as did all on board their confort the Tamer. They left Port Defire on the 4th of December, and di: edled their courfe to the fouthward of Pepy*s Ifland, laid down in our charts in the latitude of 48® fouth, and in the longitude of 64** degrees bearing call by fouth of Cape Blanco. But after many un- fuccefsful attempts to difcover this in^r.J, in order to procure a frefh fupply of wooa and water, they had the mortification to find that all endeavours were in- effedual •, they were therefore obliged to defift from the feat ch, firmly, perfuadcd of the impradicability of finding any fuch place. On the 20th, at four in the afternoon, they faw the extremity of the land of Cape Fairweather, ex- tending from fouth to welt -, at the diftance of three leagues, when founding, they found 25 fathoms wa- ter, with foft ground, and the latitude of the Cape to be in 51'' 30'. Indeed they never fleered abovs five or fix miles from the fhore •, and in pafling be- tween the hifl mentioned cape and Cape Blanco, had no foundings with 25 fathoms of line. The coaft here appears in white cliffs, with level bluff land, not unlike that about Dover and the fouth Forelands. The next day they faw Cape Virgin Mary, from which they were five leagues diftant, and alio the land named Terra del Fuego. At three o'clock the next the PATAGONIANS. 5^9 ntxt morning they weighed, and making fliil, at fix the extreams of Terra del Fuego appeared, extend- ing from the fouth-eaft by fouth, to the fouth welt by fouth, at four or five Iccigues diftance. At eight they difcovered a good dtral of fmoke ifluiing from different quarters, and, on a nearer approach, could plainly perceive a number of people on horfeback. At ten they anchored in 14 fathoms on the north fhore, and fawCape Virgin Mary, which appeared over the low neck of land to the eait north eaft, and Point Pofleflion to the weft by fouth. Being about a mile from the land, they no fooner came to an anchor, than the people on Ihore hollowed to them, and moved their hands -, on which they immediately hoift^ cd out their boats, manned and armrd. On approaching the coaft, evident figns of fear appeared among thofe in the boar, on feeing men of fuch enormous fize ; while fome, perhaps to en- courage the reft, obferved, that thofe gigantic peo- ple were a3 much furpriied at the fight of their muf- kets. This, however, ferved to remind them, that fire arms gave them an advantage much fuperior to that derived from ftature and perfonal ftrength. When they had rowed within 20 yards of the fliore, they lay on their oars, and obferved that great num- bers of them furrounded the beach, and by theiv countenances feemed eagerly defirous of having theni land. After the moft amicable figns which thtfe people were capable of undcrftanding, or the boat's crews of giving, a fignal was made to them to retire backward ; and then the commodore and chief offi- cers entered upon a Ihort confukation on the pro- priety of landing. The firft officer, fired with the thoughts of making a full difcovery in regard to thefe Indians, who had been fo much the fubjedt of con- verfarion among the Englifli, made a motion to ap- proach nearer and jump on fhore ; but the commo- dore objected to it, and would not fufter any man to^ go before himfelf. / v* I-, 1 3. » As. 5IO PARTICULARS relating to As foon ns the Indians had retreated from the beach, which ihey bad fiirrounded in Rich a manner, as to prevent any perfon's landinpr, the commodore, with great intrepidity, leaped on fliore, followed by his officers an.cl men, whom he drew up in a pofture of defence. Imrnediately on landing the inhabitants came ^about them, to the number of two hundred or more, looking with evident marks of furprize, and fmiling, as it fliould feem, at the great difproportion of their ftature. > After many amicable figns, which appeared equal- ly agreeable to bojli parties, the commodore, who liad taken with him on fhore a great number of trin- kets, fuch as firings of beads, ribbons, and the like, diftributed them with great freedom, as far as they went. The method he made ufe of to facilitate the dillribution of them, was by making the Indians fit down on the ground, that he might put the firings of beads* &c. round their necks ; and fuch was their extraordinary fize, that in this fituation they were almoll as high as the commodore when {landing. They were fo delighted with the different trinkets, which hung round their necks, and fell down before on their bofoms, that the commodore could fcarcely reftrain them from carefling him, particularly the women •, whofe large and mafculine features corre- fponded with the enormous fize of their bodies. Their middle (tature fet med to be above eight feet -, their extream nine and upward. Their cloathing confided of the fkins of guanacoes, or Peruvian Iheep, which reached from their Ihoulders down to their knees; and their hair was long and black, hanging down behind. The faces of t!ie women were painted moll extrav. ganrly, and their ilature equally Uirprif- ing with that of the men. Their infants in the mo- ther's arms, C'-infidering their age, bore the fame pro- portion on their features. Soiue of their women had collars on their necks, and bracelets on their arms ♦, ljut from whence they could procure them was a futj- f jea the PATAGONIANS. 5^i jc£l of wonder, as from their great amazement at firft fight, it was conjectured, that they had never beheld any civilized beings before. It may, how- ever, be concluded from the accounts of Sir John Narborough, and others, who have taken notice of thefe Indians, that they doubtleis change their fitua- tion with the fun, fpending the fummer here, and in winter removin,^ i irther to the north, in order to en- joy the benefit of a milder cfimate. Hence Sir John and others have related, that they faw men of an un- common fize, at leaft eight or ten degrees more to the northward ; whence it may reafonably be conjec- tured, that during one part of the year, they may have fome intercourfe with the Indians, who border on fome of the Spanilh fettlements, and that from them they might have purchafed thefe ornaments. Their language appeared to be nothing more than a confufed jargon, without any mixture of the Spa- nilh or Portuguefe, the only European tongues of which it was ppflible for them to obtain any know- ]ege J and with which it is probable it would have been mixed, had they any immediate intercourfe with tl>e Spaniards or Portuguefe of South America. Thefe people frequently looked toward the fun with an air of adoration, and made motions with their fingers to communicate their minds. They appeared to be of a friendly difpofition, and feemed to live in great unanimity amongft themfelves. After the com- modore and his men had been with them a (hort time, they made figns for them to go to the fn )oke which ;hey faw at a dirtance, and at the fame time pointed to their mouths, as if they intended to p,ive them fome refre(l;ment : but their number being at pre- ient greatly luperior, and it being not improbable that Itill greater multitu^les mig it come upon them unawares from the inland country, the commodore, who was equally remark ible for his prudence and his )3ravery, thought; it not advifeable to venture any far- ther from thp water-fide. J3y 5'« PARTICULARS relating to By the obfervations made from the maft-head, at about three or four miles diftance, and from th6 ftnoke they favv rifing from different quarters^ thcfc I'acago lian*; feemed to have no kuts to fecure them from tlie weather ; but to be entirely cxpofed, with- oiit lb much av*5 a tree of a moderate growth to (belter them. Indeed the foil is in general landy, and to ^11 appearance barren ; for they found neither water nor trees, but only a few Ihrubs. The writer remarks^ that the grcatt- ft part of thofe who furrounded the Ihore were, btfure their landing, on horfeback ; but on feeing the boats make up to them, they dif- mounted, and left their horfes at fome diftance. Theft hories Teemed to be about fixteen hands high, and very fwift ; but bore no proportion to the (ize of their riders, and fcemed to be but in a poor condi- tion. Thefe Patagonian Indians were fo diftrefied and afflided at their leaving them, that they heard their cries for a ccnfiderable time after. To this re- lation the writer adds fome other concurring tefti- mony to the follov/ing effedlr. A gentteman, he fays, who was an officer in one of the fliips, and on Ihore at the fame time with our author, affirms, that the Dolphin having entered lo or 12 leagues into the mouth of the ftreights of Ma- gellan* the men on deck obferved thirty or forty peo- ple of an extraordinary ftature, ftanding on the beach of the continent, who looking attentively at them, made friendly figns, by which they feemed to invite them to come on ihore •, while others, who ftood ^loft, difcovered with their glafles a much greater number, about a mile farther up the country ; but afcribed their apparent fize to the fogginefs of the air. The fliip happening at this inftant to be becalmed, the honourable Mr. Byron, thinking no time would be loft by going aftiore, refolved to land, in order to fee thefe Indians, and learn what he could of their manners : he therefore ordered a fix-oared boat for himfelf and officers, and one of twelve oars to be filled with the PATAGONIANS. 513 with men and arms, as a fecurity, in cafe there fhould be any attempt to furprife or injure him, or any of thofe who went with him ; though the people on Ihorc did not feem to have any thing like an offenfive wea- pon among them. ...»,,.:. -It On the commodore's landing, in company with his lieutenant, he made figns to the Indians, who were crouding round him, to retire, which they very rea- dily did, to the diftance of 30 or 40 yards. He then, attended by his lieutenant, advanced toward them about 20 yards -, and their number was foon encreafed to upward of 500 men, women and children. Seve- ral civilities at this time pafled on both fides, the In- dians exprefling their joy and fatisfadion by finging uncouth fongs, Ihaking hands, and fitting with looks of plcafure, with their wives and children round the commodore, who diftributed among them ribbons and ftrings of beads, with which they appeared extreamly delighted. He tied necklaces round the necks of feveral of the women, who feemed to be from fcveti and a half to eight feet high •, but the men were for the moft part about nine feet in height, and fome more. The commodore himfelf meafures full fix feet, and though he ftood on tip-toe, he could but juft reach the crown of one of the Indians heads', who was not, by far, the talleft among them. The men are well made, broad fct, and of prodigious ftrength, of a copper- colour, with long black hair; and were cloathed with (kins, which were faftened about their necks by a thong -, the Ikins worn by the men being loofe, but the women's girt dole with a kind of belt. Many of the men and women rode on horfes, which were about fifreen hands and a half high, all of them aftride i and they had among them fome dogs, which had (harp nofes like foxes •, and •were nearly of the fize of a middling pointer. Thefe friendly people invited the commodore, and ^all thpfe who were landed, to go with them up the •country, (liewing a diftant fmoke, and poinnng to their ^14 PARTICULARS relating td their mouths, as if they intended to give them a I'c* Sail i and in return, the commodore invited the In- ians to come on board, by pointing to his fhip ; but neither of them accepted of the pthers invitation : and therefore having paflTed two hours in an agree- able converfation, carried orn wholly by figns, they parted with all the ivarks of friendihip. The country all around is fandy -, but diverfified with fmall hills, covered with a (hort coarfe grafs» and with fl-jrubs, none of which, as Sir John Nar- borough has long before remarked, is large enough to make the helve of a hatchet. Another gentleman on board has given an account that exadtly tallies with the above, with thefe additional circumllances : That when they were lo or 12 leagues within the ftrcights, they faw through their glafles many people on {liore of a prodigious fize ; which extraordinary magnitude they thought to be a decep- tion, occafioned by the hazinefs of the air, it being then fomewhat foggy ; but on coming near the land they appeared of ftill greater bulk, and made ami- cable figns to our people to come on Ihore. That when the fliip failed on to find a proper place of land- ing, they made lamentations, as, if they were afraid our people were going off, and would not land. He alio lays, there were near 400 of them, and about one third of the men were on horfes not much larger than ours ; and that ihey rode with their knees up to the horfe's withers, having no ftirrups. That there were women, and many children, whom fome of our people took in their arms and kified, which the In- dians beheld with much feeming fatisfadion. That by way of affedion and efteem, they took his hand between theirs, and patted it •, and that fome of thofe he faw were ten feet high, well proportioned and well featured -, their fl^ins of a copper-colour, and they had neither offenfive nor defenfive weapons. He alfo fays, that they fcemed particularly pleall-d with ^ c '^^ the PATAGONIANS. 5^5 with lieutenant Cummins, on account of his ftature, he being fix feet two inches high, and that fome of them patted him on the fhouldcr, but their hands fell with fuch force, that it affedted his whole frame. In fine, another officer of the fquadron, who is affirmed to have communicated an account of thefe extraordinary people to the Royal Society, in a paper which that learned body is faid to have referved for publication, gives the fame account, with thefe ad- ditional circumftances : that they all appeared to be very fagacious, eafily underftood the lignals or inti- mations which our people made to them, and be- haved with great complacency and good nature. - ■• * * , M The End of the First Volume. to V «^'. .^ ERRATA, in the Introduction* In the Table of the Planets, p. lo, for da^s and hoursy in the diurnal rotations of Mars and Jupiter, re&d hours znd minutes, ' > - - P. 15, I. 10 from the bottom, for rartfication^ read rarefoBion, ' "*' ■ -\ / . r I • ,\ I '