America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

Beasts.

The noted’st Beast in this Countrey is the Danta, which resembles a Mule, hath no Horns, but Ash-colour’d long Hair, short Neck, hanging Ears, thin Legs, with three Claws before and two behind, long Head, narrow Forehead, little Eyes, a Nose hanging over its Mouth, little Tail, sharp Teeth, and a Skin which is six Fingers thick, and scarce penetrable by any Weapon. This Beast is taken in Traps, Holes, or else with Dogs, which he often kills when hunted towards the Water. They say that this Beast taught Men first to Let-blood; for if it be too full of Blood, it pricks it self against a sharp Cane, and stops up the Orifice again very carefully. The Flesh thereof is good Meat, as also that of the Ross-Lyons, which in the day-time sleep on a high Tree, where they are shot by the Indians.

The Tygers are much more dangerous to be taken; yet the Indians Hunting them, eat them in stead of Beef; and also through all New Spain.

The Bears, which make the Ways very dangerous to travel, have black frizled Hair, broad Tails, Feet like Mens Hands: but since the Indians have made use of Guns, which they learn’d from the Spaniards, they have much lessen’d the number both of Bears and Tygers.

There are likewise many Leopards, Apes, and wild Goats (whose Skins serve the Natives for Drums) Hogs, and Armadillo’s.

Amongst their Fowls, are Eagles and Parrots.

The Countrey is so well stor’d with Water, that in three Leagues space are above thirty Rivulets, and as many Fountains.

Medicinal Plants.

On the Mountains grow great quantities of Sarsaparilla, Mechoacan, and the China-Root, which being yellowish hath several Saffron-colour’d Knobs on the top. The Sarsaparilla grows with many Stalks, creeping along over the Ground; the Body thereof is tough and full of Prickles, the Leaves broad and sharp at the ends, and are of a bluish colour on one side, and green on the other, and bear Clusters of Flowers, which close like Buds, and are first green, next vermilion-red, and lastly blackish: within are two hard Stones, which inclose a white Kernel, by the Indians call’d Juapecanga.

The Bay Golfo Dulce, which pours its muddy Water into the Sea, feeds the great Fish Monati, and a great number of Crocodiles.