The Bishoprick (as it is now call’d) of Chiapa is border’d on the West with New Spain; on the East with Vera Paz; and on the South with Mare del Zur. It is a Countrey much shaded with Woods, and those replenish’d with many fair and goodly Trees, of divers sorts, and of the largest size, as Oaks, Pines, Cedar, Myrtle, and Cypress-Trees, besides others which yield them a good kind of Rozen, precious Gums, &c. also several sorts of Balsom, as white, red, green, and black, not onely pleasant to the Scent, but an excellent Remedy for all manner of green Wounds: the best of it drops out of the cut Bodies of the Trees; and the worst is press’d out of the Wood and Leaves.
Trees and Plants.
There are also proper to this Countrey several other kinds of Trees and Plants, as that whose Fruit tastes like Pepper and Cloves, being of a great heighth; a Tree whose Leaves cure all ulcerated Sores, or the bitings of any poysonous Beast.
There is a sort of Cabbage call’d Ilantas, which grows to the heighth of a Tree, so that Birds make their Nests in them; they are eaten likewise like other common Cabbages.
There is also an Herb with narrow Leaves, which is no sooner touch’d, but it shrinks up to nothing; but at the going away of those which touch it, it obtains its former vigour.
Birds.
Here are likewise Quails, Ducks, Geese, Pheasants, Parrots, Turtle-Doves, Pigeons, and the like, in great abundance.
Amongst the several sorts of Falcons which breed in this Countrey, there is one sort which hath one Foot proper to its kind, the other like that of a Goose; it feeds on Fish along the Rivers.
The Bird Toto-Queztall, which is somewhat smaller than a Pigeon, with green Feathers and a long Tail, is taken onely for its Tail, which when the Indians have pull’d out, they let the Bird fly again, there being a Law amongst them, that whosoever kills one of them, is to suffer death.
The Cranes here are of a dark Gray; the biggest of them have a tuft of Feathers like a Crown upon their Heads.