Sect. II.
Jucatan.
Jucatan is a Peninsula, or half-Island, being encompass’d with the Sea on all sides, save onely to the South-West, where it is joyn’d to Guaxata, its farther and more Easterly Point looking towards Cuba. The knowledge of, when, and by whom this Province was discover’d, is included in that of New Spain, of which some will have it to be a part. The whole Province contains in compass nine hundred Miles or more, and lies between eighteen and twenty two Degrees of Northern Latitude, or thereabouts, the Air somewhat hot, and the Soil not altogether so fertile as some other parts of New Spain are; but in recompence thereof the People are so much the more industrious, living for the most part by Handicraft Trades. Neither is it altogether unstor’d with Corn and divers sorts of Fruits, besides what it hath of Fowl and Beasts, as Geese, Hens, Deer, &c. particularly it yieldeth plenty of Wax and Honey, by reason of its frequent Swarms of Bees. They report some special things of this Province, as namely, that the People of the Countrey us’d generally, and long before the Spaniards came thither, a certain Ceremony of Religion, not much unlike to our Baptism, and which they call’d by a Name that in their Language signifi’d Regeneration, or A Second-Birth; that they observ’d it so diligently, that few or none amongst them omitted to initiate themselves by it, believing, that thereby the Seeds and Ground-work of all Goodness was laid in them, and that they were fortifi’d by it against the assaults and temptations of evil Spirits; that after they were three or four years old, till they came to twelve, they usually thus Wash’d and Baptiz’d themselves; and that none were permitted amongst them to Marry, that were not first initiated after this manner; that they chose likewise a solemn Day upon which to do this; and that the Friends and Relations (especially the Father and Mother) of the Parties to be initiated, as well as the Parties themselves, always Fasted three days before the said Initiation; and that a great many of the Natives had a Tradition, or general Report amongst them, that of ancient time this Province of Jucatan was possess’d and cultivated by a certain People which came thither from the East, after a tedious long wanderring, and many hardships endur’d at Sea, having escap’d the Hands of their Enemies onely through the power of the Deity they worshipp’d; who help’d them, and made them to pass securely, even through the Waves of the Sea. All which, if true, seems not a little to confirm the Report which goeth for currant in the Welsh Chronicles, of one Madoc ap Owen, the Son of Guineth, a Prince of that Countrey, who is said to have fall’n upon a far Countrey this way in his Travels; which he lik’d so well, that having secur’d to his Companions their safe abode there during his absence, he return’d himself into Wales for more Men; and that he transported thither as many as he could carry in ten Barques full fraught. This he is said to have done about the Year of our Lord 1170. but neither he nor any of his Men were ever heard of since; and the success of the Expedition, it seems, little enquir’d after by the Welsh. However, the Relation seems not altogether incredible.
The chief Towns of the Province are, 1. Merida, in the Navel of the Countrey, and the Seat of the Governor, twelve Leagues distant from the Sea on either side. 2. Valladolidt, thirty Leagues distant from Merida. 3. Campeche, a great Town, consisting of about three thousand Houses or more, when first conquer’d by the Spaniards; who found such Monuments of Art and Industry in it, as did clearly argue, that the Place had been once possess’d by some People that were not barbarous. It is now call’d St. Francisco, and was surpriz’d in the Year 1596. by Captain Parker, an English-man, who took the Governor himself and some other Persons of Quality with him, together with a Ship richly laden with Gold and Silver, besides other Commodities of good value. 4. Tabasco, by the Spaniard now call’d Villa de Nuestra Sennora de Victoria, and commonly Victoria onely, in memory, as ’tis thought, of the first great Victory which Cortez obtain’d over these People at the Battel of Potonchan, as hath been said. 5. Cintla. 6. Potonchan. 7. Salamanca.
All along the Coast of this Countrey there lie certain Islands, some within the Bay or Gulph call’d Honduras, pertaining to the next Province, as 1. La Zarza. 2. La Desconescida. 3. Vermeia. 4. Los Negrillos; and some without it, as 1. Zaratan. 2. Pantoia. 3. De Mugeres, or The Island of Women; so nam’d by the Spaniards, who at their first Discovery of these Parts, for a long time together could meet with none but Women. The chief of them is call’d Acusamil, commonly Cozamul, and is fifteen Leagues in length, and about five in breadth, and was as it were the Thorow-fare, or Common Road of the Spaniards, when they first discover’d the Countreys of New Spain: For first here Landed Ferdinando de Corduba; after him John de Grialva, and others; and last of all the fortunate Cortez. It is now call’d St. Crux.
CHAP. IV.
Guatimala.
Its Situation and Bounds.
Guatimala stretcheth to the Isthmus, or Neck of Land, which, as we said, joineth the Northern and Southern parts of the New World together.
This Countrey is bounded Northward with the Peninsula of Jucatan abovesaid, and part of the Gulph or Bay of Honduras; on the South, with Mare del Zur; on the East and South-East, it hath Castella Aurea; and on the West, New Spain. The length of it lieth upon the Coast of Mare del Zur, and is said to be little less than three hundred Leagues; but the breadth not half so much, and in some places very narrow. It is generally a fertile and good Countrey in all respects, but especially abounding in Cattel and good Pastures; it is subdivided into seven inferior Provinces or Countreys, which are 1. Chiapa. 2. Verapaz. 3. Honduras. 4. Nicaragua. 5. Veragua. 6. Costa Rica; and 7. Guatimala, specially so call’d: all differing in Language and Customs one from another.