Part 20

The _Dolphin_ Pink and a great Boat being sent to the Inlet, lay the following Night at an Anchor near a high Mountain; from whence, in the Night, two great Guns were fir’d, whereupon, Lieutenant _William Ter Bergen_ Landed with sixteen Musqueteers, and climbing up the Mountain, found a Village behind the same, where all things were in Alarm, Drums beating, Trumpets sounding, Bells ringing; the Villagers suddenly firing their Guns on _Ter Bergen_, who being supply’d with thirty four Men, Encounter’d the Enemy so Valiantly, that he fled into the Woods, not without the loss of Men and Horses: The Guns with which they had shot in the Night lay onely on a Redoubt: _Ter Bergen_ persuing this Victory, March’d into the Woods, and shot the _Spanish_ Commander _Andreas Munes Iserrera_ from his Horse, got great store of Treasure which lay hid under the Tree, being brought out of _Carelmappa_, which Village he set afire, and kill’d all the Horses, and Weigh’d Anchor with the Admiral _Brewer_ to _Michael de Cabuco_ where not being able to Land, because of the many obscure Rocks and Shoals, they set Sail to _Castro_, which they conquer’d and burnt without the least resistance: This City situate on a Mountain is stately built among Flowry Meadows, delightful Orchards, and brave Fountains; the Sea before it flows daily fourteen Foot. _Brewer_ also burnt a _Spanish_ Ship, and set some Houses afire, took three _Spaniards_ Prisoners on _Las Bahias_, who inform’d him, that the Winter Season was almost over, but that it was never known by any to pass over so mildly, ill Weather generally using to blow down Houses, Trees, and rend Rocks asunder; that there was much Gold in _Osorno_ and _Baldivia_, which last they had some years since deserted for hunger, but it was since Garrison’d by three hundred _Castilians_, that none could get at the Fort _Conception_ (which lay a League Westerly from thence) but in a small Boat, that there were on the place near two thousand Inhabitants. Moreover, an ancient Matron call’d _Lovysa Pizarra_, from _Quintian_, one of the Isles in the _Chilean_ In-Land-Sea, being fetch’d from thence, gave information, that forty years since, before the _Indians_ took up Arms, the _Spaniards_ were quietly setled in _Osorno_, and in so good a condition, that an ordinary Planter had at least three hundred Slaves, of which, every one was to procure a certain quantity of Gold; that the Isles _Chiloves_ were divided into above a hundred Colonies or Plantations, the _Chileses_ serving the _Castilians_ as their true Governors; those that do good Service the King of the Colony makes them Commanders, and that the _Chileses_ had Rebell’d in several places. _Brewer_ on the _Chileses_ request took some of them, with their Wives and Children into his Ship, furnish’d with Arms, he digg’d a Chest of Silver and a Brass Gun out of the Earth, and soon after being sick, dy’d. His Successor _Elias Herkmans_ prosecuting those Publick Affairs, sent the Pilot of the _Unity_ out of _Brewer’s Haven_, and some Sea-men, with two _Chilean Casiques_ with a Boat to _Carelmappa_; but being surpriz’d by a violent Storm, stood in for _Horse-Island_, where he and the _Casiques_ Landing, he order’d seven Sea-men to carry the Boat to a safer Harbor; but being driven from the shore by strong Winds it took in so much Water as fill’d and sunk it, so that all of them were drown’d. _Horse-Island_ being destitute of Provisions and Lodgings, those that were Landed expected nothing but Death, till they found out a small Hut, and in the same six brave Sheep, and a good quantity of Potatoe Roots, which serv’d for Bread: But when this their new-found Store was almost spent, they happily were fetch’d off by the Boat belonging to the Ship _Amsterdam_, and with the whole Fleet came to an Anchor before _Baldivia_. This City built by the _Castilians_, consisted formerly of five hundred and fifty fair Houses, and was divided into Streets and cross Ways, with two large Markets, and as many costly Churches.

[Sidenote: Why the _Chileses_ grew strange to the _Hollanders_.]

The _Chileses_ unsufferably oppress’d, slew all the _Spanish_ Garrison, and into the Governor’s Mouth and Ears pour’d melted Gold; of his Skull they made a Drinking-cup, and of his Shin-bones, Trumpets; after this, the City fell almost to decay, onely a great part of the Wall remain’d yet standing: The _Chileans_ hereupon flock’d hither by thousands, some on Horses, others on Foot, all Arm’d with Lances of a Foot long: _Herkman_ hereupon informing them by an Interpreter, that they being mortal Enemies of the _Spaniards_, would joyn with the _Chileans_ against that common Foe; and desir’d, that they might build a Fort on the Market-place in _Baldivia_, for a defence against all Invasions, and that they might be supply’d with Provisions which the Fleet wanted; all which the _Chileans_ granted, and accordingly brought in store of Sheep, Hogs, and Cattel: But so soon as _Herkman_ began to make the least mention of Gold, they were all abash’d, and said, that they knew of no Gold Mines, nay, their Hair stood an end, when they heard the name of Gold; so horribly the _Spaniards_ had dealt with their Parents: After this, the _Chileans_ growing more and more strange, did not in the least countenance the building of the Fort, and the longer the Fleet staid, the less Provisions they brought aboard; upon which, the Ships were necessitated, without any remarkable Exploits, to set Sail and return to _Reciffo_.

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The Second Book, CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF NORTHERN AMERICA

CHAP. I. _Of the Bounds of_ America, _and of the Division of the_ Mexican _or Northern part thereof_.

[Sidenote: The Bounds and Division of _Northern America_.]

Having in the first part of this Volume discours’d at large concerning the original of the _Americans_, and whether that part of the World call’d _India Occidentalis_, or _America_, were known to the Ancients, or own its Discovery wholly to the Moderns, as also of all the Discoveries that have been made of the several parts thereof, and by whom, we shall now pass on to the Topographical part, describing every particular Province or Region, by giving an account of their Situation, Temperature, Productions, Nature of the Soil, and Quality of the Inhabitants. _America_, lying Westward of the _Azores_, and the Worlds Meridian, is by some suppos’d to consist of one vast Island, and several lesser ones, scatter’d about it: Nor can this supposition be thought vain, if, as many think, it be inviron’d on the North-side, as toward the East, South, and West it is known to be; East and South, by the _Atlantick Ocean_; and West, by _Mar del Zur_: But because the North-West Passage, though attempted by many, as _Nelson_, _Davis_, _Forbisher_, _Button_, _Smith_, _Hudson_, and others, hath not yet by any been fully discover’d; so that it is not certainly known whether _America_ be joyn’d to _Greenland_, and the _Arctick_ Region, by a continu’d Tract of Land, or sever’d by the Ocean: We shall follow the method of those Geographers, who, reputed sufficiently Authentick, have divided this new World into Islands, and two grand _Peninsula_’s joyn’d together by an _Isthmus_, or Neck of Land, call’d _The Straight of Darien_, by some _The Straight of Panama_, lying almost under the Equinoctial Line, and extending in length from _Nombre de Dios_ Southward above a hundred Miles, and from East to West seventeen Miles over in the narrowest place. Of these two grand _Peninsula_’s the Northern is generally call’d _America Mexicana_, from _Mexico_ the chief City of the Province, properly call’d _Mexicana_; which was heretofore without doubt the most potent, rich, and flourishing of all the Kingdoms of the _Indians_, at least on the North-side of the _Isthmus_. In the division of the several Provinces of _America_, as well those of the Northern as of the Southern Continent, we find so various an account among the several Geographers that have written of them (not any two of them agreeing in one and the same order) that to reconcile the differing methods of so many disagreeing Authors would be an endless work: wherefore we shall pitch upon the surest course, and not omitting the mention of any of the Provinces taken notice of by the said Authors, hereby endeavor to take in whatsoever material hath been observ’d by all of them, and by the way take occasion to shew how one differs from another in the distribution of them. Those therefore of the Northern _America_ (that as near as can be we may bring the design of many into one) seem most fitly describ’d in this following order: 1. _Estotiland_; 2. _Terra Laboratoris_, or _Nova Britannia_; 3. _Canada_, or _Nova Francia_; 4. _Nova Scotia_; 5. _New England_; 6. _New Netherlands_, now call’d _New York_, as being in the possession of the _English_; 7. _New Holland_; 8. _New Swedeland_; 9. _Apalchen_, now call’d _Virginia_; 10. _Florida_; 11. _Jucatan_; 12. _Honduras_; 13. _Nicaragua_; 14. _Veragua_; 15. _Costarica_; 16. _Anien_; 17. _Nova Hispania_; 18. _Guacatimala_; 19. _Nova Gallicia_; 20. _Nova Biscaia_; 21. _Nova Mexico_; 22. _Cibola_; 23. _Nova Granata_; 24. _Tontonteac_; 25. _Quivira_; 26. _Nova Albion_; to which by most Authors is added _California_; which being an Island we thought fit to reserve to be spoken of amongst the Islands, as also _Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_; which last lies utmost West, as the other East of Northern _America_. Some there are also (and particularly _Monsieur de Martini_) who among the above-mention’d Provinces have inserted _Greenland_, though doubtless with little reason, since though it be granted that it is not divided by any Sea, yet it is evident, if any credit may be given to all modern Maps and Globes, that the greatest part of _Greenland_ lies in the Hemisphere of the known World; and therefore we have judg’d it most convenient to refer the particular mention thereof to the Description of the _Arctick_ Region.

The Islands of _Northern America_ are 1. _Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_; 2. The _Island of Assumption_; 3. The _Bermudas_, or _Summer-Island_; 4. _Hispaniola_; 5. _St. John Porto Rico_; 6. _Cuba_; 7. _Jamaica_; 8. The _Lucayes_; 9. The _Caribes_, or _Antillæ_; 10. _Margarita_; 11. _Cubagua_; 12. _La Trinidad_; 13. _Tabago_; 14. _California_, the biggest of all the _American_ Islands.

The length of the _West-Indies_ is generally computed to be from the utmost South of _Terra Magellanica_, to the farthest North of _Estotiland_, about six thousand _English_ Miles, reaching from six Degrees of Northern, to fifty three of Southern Latitude; the breadth from _St. Michael_ or _Piura_ Westward, to _Parabaya_, a Town on the Coast of _Brasil_ Eastward, three thousand nine hundred Miles, and the whole compass thirty thousand.

SECT. II. Estotiland.

That the _English_ have been very great Undertakers of Voyages and Discoveries toward the North-West, appears by the denomination of divers places, both from the Persons which have Sail’d thitherward, and also from such of our own Countrey Names as were thought fit to be there fix’d, as beyond the _Arctick Circle_ are Sir _James Lancaster’s Sound_, Sir _Dudley Diggs’s Cape_, Queens _Annes Foreland, Cumberland Isles, Davis’s Straight, &c._ on this side toward the _Arctick Circle_, _Button_’s and _Brigg_’s _Bay_, _Hudson_’s _Sea_, otherwise term’d _Mare Christianum_, out of which more Westerly runs a narrow Sea call’d _Hudson_’s _Straight_: beyond _Hudson_’s _Sea_ towards the _Arctick Circle_ is a place call’d _New North-Wales_; and on this side answerable to it, between _Button_’s _Bay_ and the _Christian Sea_, lies _New South-Wales_; all which places we find generally set down in the _American_ Hemisphere, but in the Geographical Discourses thereof little is said of them, if so much as nam’d. The farthest part of Land Northward, between _Hudson_’s _Gulph_ and _Hudson_’s _Straight_, betwixt fifty seven and sixty Degrees of Northern Latitude, goes generally by the Name of _Estotiland_, I mean that properly so call’d (for _Estotiland_ is by some as largely taken as _Canada_, by _Cluverius_, _Golnitzius_, _Peter du Val_, and others, namely for all that Tract of Land extending from that supposed _Straight of Anian_, which divides _America_ from _Asiatick Tartary_, as far as the utmost point of Land that shoots toward the _Atlantick Ocean_) which Southerly towards _Terra Laboratoris_ is bounded with a River vulgarly call’d _Rio Nevado_, or _The Snowy River_. _Estotiland_ seems to have deriv’d its Name from its lying more Easterly than the rest of the Provinces, and, according as _Nova Britannia_ is plac’d in some Charts, might very well be taken for the same, though it hath not been so term’d by any Author, but rather _Terra Laboratoris_, _Cortereatis_, and _Nova Britannia_ are generally receiv’d to be all one.

[Sidenote: First discovery of _Estotiland_.]

[Sidenote: The Nature of the People.]

This Province is affirm’d by _Matthias Quadus_, and _J. Antonius Maginus_, to have been the first discover’d Countrey of the new World, and that by _Antonius Zeno_, a Patrician of _Venice_, in the Year of our Lord 1390. which was long before the Expedition of _Columbus_, through the encouragement of _Zichmus_, King of the Isle of _Friezland_; but by whomsoever found out, or at whatsoever time, it is commonly affirm’d to be not ill furnish’d with Provisions of all sorts, as Beasts, Birds, Fish, Fowl, and Fruits, having a Soil indifferent fertile, in respect of the coldness of the Climate. The People in general (for some there are that live wild and salvage up and down the Woods, and go naked, whereas the Clothing of the Countrey is the Skins of Beasts and of Sea-Calves, call’d _Morses_) are reported not onely tolerably civil, but also ingenious and expert both in mechanick Arts, and other necessary Faculties, insomuch that the first Voyagers to this place are said to have observ’d of them upon this first Discovery, That they sow’d Corn, brew’d Beer and Ale, and Traded by Sea to _Greenland_, _Friezland_, and other places, to the distance of fifteen hundred Miles; and that they were not altogether void of the use of Letters, but that their Character was onely proper to themselves and not intelligible by any other Nation: Moreover, there is a certain Tradition, that there was here and there some little knowledge of the _Latine_ Tongue amongst them, and that there were found divers _Latine_ Books in a Library of one of their Kings; the reason of which, if true, is conjectur’d to be from certain _Europeans_ who understood that Language, having in Ages past suffer’d shipwrack upon those Coasts, where chancing to abide either through constraint or choice, they might haply at their Decease leave behind them some Books and other Monuments of the _Latine_ Tongue. They were observ’d to use such a kind of Javelin or short Dart, as was known to be us’d by the People of _Java_, and some other Islands of the _East-Indies_; whereupon it seems not wholly improbable, that they might for a long time have entertain’d Traffick and Correspondence with them.

[Sidenote: Description of the _Morses_.]

The _Morses_, or Sea-Calves before mention’d, are about the bigness of a young Heifer, the Hunting of which by the Natives, who take them in great numbers, is to them in the stead of Whale-fishing, which is not there so good, for they draw a great quantity of Train-Oyl out of them. On each side of the Jaw of this amphibious Creature (for it is said to live very much on the Land, as well as in the Water) there sticks out a crooked Tusk, winding downward like an Elephants _Proboscis_, above a Cubit in length, and as white and hard as Ivory: It is esteem’d of great vertue, at least it passes for such among those who take it for other than what it is, for it is frequently vended for Unicorns-horn; of which imposture Dr. _Brown_ takes notice, and gives a Caution against in his _Vulgar Errors_.

This Countrey is suppos’d, and that probably enough, to have store of Brass and Iron Mines; but for the Mines of Gold and Silver, which some have imagin’d there, the Northerly Situation of the Countrey, and by consequence the coldness of the Climate, give sufficient cause to question the truth of any such assertion. What chief Towns, Cities, Rivers and Mountains there are in this Province, is not yet deliver’d by any, onely _Maginus_ and _Quadus_ make mention of four principal Rivers, which disperse themselves through the Countrey, and take their source out of a great Mountain in the midst thereof.

SECT. III. Terra Laboratoris.

[Sidenote: Situation.]

_Terra Laboratoris_, by some call’d _Nova Britannia_, by others _Corterealis_, (though there are some who make _Laboratoris_ and _Corterealis_ two distinct Countreys, comprehended, according to _Peter du Val_, under _Nova Britannia_, as the more general Province; or, according to _Cluverius_, under _Canada_) lies from about fifty four to fifty seven Degrees of Northern Latitude, between _Estotiland_ and the River _Canada_, which _Maginus_ and some others, though for what reason is not express’d, name _Fretum trium Fratrum_, _The Bay of the three Brethren_; others, _The River of St. Laurence_, and is, according to the said Author, of so vast a bigness, that the Mouth of it extends it self thirty five _Italian_ Miles wide; likewise of such a length, as to have been navigated a continu’d Voyage of eight hundred Miles. The denomination of _Terra de Laborador_, or _Laboratoris_, seems probably enough conjectur’d to be from the cultivability (if one may so term it) of the Soil, or its aptness for Cultivation or Tillage; that is, because by the painful Hand of the Labourer or Husband-man it may be rendred so fertile, as to yield all sorts of Grain and Fruits; haply in allusion to that fruitful Countrey of _Campania_ in _Italy_, vulgarly known by the Name of _Terra di Lavoro_. As for the Appellation of _Terra Corterealis_, it need not be question’d, but that it derives it self from _Gaspar Corterealis_, a _Portuguese_ Gentleman, who about the Year of our Lord 1500. is thought by some to have made the first discovery of these Parts; though Sir _Sebastian Cabot_ a _Venetian_, is more generally believ’d to have been the Man that (under the favour and countenance of _Henry_ the Seventh, King of _England_) first discover’d them, at least the adjoyning Island _Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_; but just onely discover’d, being hinder’d the farther prosecution of that Design, by the important Affairs in which the said King was about that time involv’d; neither did _Corterealis_, whether he was the first, or came after, do any more, for returning within a year after his first setting out, he was never heard of; nor, as _Osorius_ a _Portuguese_ Historian writes, any of his Company, being all suppos’d to have been drown’d by Shipwrack; and in like manner _Michael Corterealis_, who the year following set forth with two Ships in quest of his Brother _Gaspar_. Upon which series of Misfortunes the _Portuguese_ being wholly discourag’d, and giving over this Design, the _French_ of _Armorica_ or _Bretany_ succeed them in it with somewhat better success about the Year 1504. whereupon it came to be term’d _Nova Britannia_, or _New Britain_. The ancient Inhabitants of this place were formerly of a Nature, like the generality of the _American_ People, somewhat bruitish and salvage, but by long conversation with the _French_, are said to have cast off their original wildness, and become more civilly manner’d: they are very jealous of their Wives, by report much addicted to Soothsaying, though otherwise having little of Religion, or of any other kind of Learning; they dwell for the most part in Caves under Ground, feed chiefly upon Fish, and are accounted most expert Archers. Whatever places the _French_ have built here besides, those of chiefest note are _St. Maries_, _Cabo Marzo_, and _Brest_.

SECT. IV. Canada, or New France.

[Sidenote: Situation.]

_Canada_, as it is taken for one and the same Province with _New France_, contains _New France_, properly so call’d, _Nova Scotia_, _Norumbega_, and some adjoyning Islands, as the _Canada_ of _Cluverius_, lying more North-Westerly, comprehends (as we have already intimated) _Estotiland_, _Laboratoris_, and _Corterealis_, and, according to the most modern Division (for that of _Cluverius_ neither consents with the latest Authors, nor agrees with exact Survey, it being nam’d _Canada_, in respect the River _Canada_ runs through it) hath on the North _Terra Corterealis_, on the South _New England_, and on the East the Ocean, and hath between forty five and fifty two or fifty three Degrees of Northern Latitude. The River _Canada_ is judg’d to be the largest of all the Rivers of _America_, as those Rivers generally the largest of all in the World besides; it rises in the Western parts of this Province which remain yet undiscover’d, and in some places spreads it self into huge Lakes, some of them a hundred Miles in compass, with many little Islands dispersed up and down in them, and so running from the West about a hundred Leagues, falls at last into the North part of _St. Lawrence Bay_, being that wide _Emboucheure_ of thirty five Miles breadth already mention’d. This River is extraordinary full of Fish, among which there is one sort more remarkable than the rest, call’d by the Inhabitants _Cadhothuis_, having Heads resembling the Heads of Hares, and Bodies as white as Snow; they are taken for the most part before the Isle _de Lievres_. The Countrey on both sides of the River is pleasant and indifferently fertile, especially towards the South-West, where upwards from the River the Ground rises into many little Hills, invested most of them with Vines, with which and several other sorts of Trees this Countrey abounds, being well water’d with a great many lesser Streams, all of them falling into the River _Canada_.

[Sidenote: First discovery.]