... “Their Kings and Princes, says the Bishop, the Spaniards scorch’d to death, or tore in pieces with Dogs: The poor People they burnt in their Houses, and dash’d out the Brains of their Children: Those that were spared, they forced to carry greater Burdens than they were able to bear, by which thousands of them were destroy’d: Others who escap’d, died of Famine in the Woods, after they had kill’d their own Wives and Children, and eat them for hunger. In this one Province they murder’d above two Millions of Men, not sparing those of Quality, who had civilly entertain’d them. They tortured the Natives with the most hellish Inventions, to make them discover their Gold. Diego de Valesco, in particular, spared none that fell into his hands, so that in a Month’s time he murder’d ten thousand: He hang’d thirteen Noblemen.
“Some they starved to death, by thrusting their Heads betwixt Pieces of cloven Timber: Others they buried alive, leaving their Heads above Ground, at which they bowl’d with large Iron-Bullets: They also forced them to eat one another.——
Besides other hellish Cruelties too dreadful to be related[[221]].” N. B. This Barth. de las Casas had been a Friar, and afterwards made Bishop of Chiapa, was a Man of more Piety and Justice than is commonly found among Friars. It was he, who procur’d the Indians their Liberty from being Slaves to the Spaniards, which they enjoy to this day, so that they are paid for what they do, about half a Crown a Week.
[221]. Acosta, Gage—The Civil and Moral History of the Spanish West-Indies, in Atlas Geogr. America.
XXXIII. The Ibitobaca is a Serpent of Chiapa, near four Foot long, and of a crimson Colour, adorn’d with a pleasing Diversity of black and white Specks; wearing its Bones as a Necklace, or the Ruff in Queen Elizabeth’s Reign, who destroy’d the Invincible Armada, and made good old England a Terror to Spaniards.
XXXIV. The Iquanna is the Birth of Mexico, a Serpent like the Pope’s Anathema, of a terrible Front, but harmless; a glittering Comb on the Head, with a Bag under the Chin; a long Tail, and sharp Bones on its Back, standing up in the form of a Saw.
This Iquannatick Serpent is of the amphibious kind, equally fitted to live by Land or Water; a Privilege which no Son of Adam can boast of. It is of the oviparous Tribe, and a great Breeder, laying about fifty Eggs at the Season as big as Acorns, which are of a very good Taste, and good Food when boiled, and so is the Serpent itself; but the Land-Iquanna is a more pleasant Food, and preferable to Spanish Ragous[[222]].
[222]. Nierembergii Historia Naturalis, p. 271.
XXXV. The Ibiboboca is a Serpent beautiful to the Eye, but of a venemous Nature; ’tis about three Foot long. The Icon of it in Gresham-College is above three Yards[[223]], white as Snow, decorated with Particles of various Colours, especially black and red. The Wound it gives operates gradually, and if neglected, proves fatal.
[223]. Curzon’s Catalogue of Rarities, p. 445.