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

The Lake Laguna de Nicaragua, which hath a hundred and seventeen Leagues in Circumference, and round about inhabited, is by three Leagues of Land separated from the South-Sea; and discharges its Waters into the River Desaguadero, which falls into the Northern Ocean. Alphonsus Calera, and Diego Machuca de Zuaso, were the first that Sail’d out of the foremention’d Lake into the Sea, not without many dangers, by reason of the great Water-falls, call’d Rondales, which fall into the River Desaguadero, and forc’d them often times to draw their Barques over the Land.

Cities.

The chief City is, 1. Leon, which is surrounded with Woods, and lies close by the Lake; hath a great Church, five Cloysters belonging to the Monks, de la Mercede, several Houses for the King’s Officers, and a hundred and twenty thousand Families of Indians which pay Tribute. Three Leagues beyond Leon appears a high spiry Mountain, from whose top, both Morning and Evening, rises a mighty smoke, and sometimes casts out great sulphurous Stones over the neighboring Fields, and on a sudden mighty Flames. A Dominican Monk, in hopes to get some melted Gold out of its burning Mouth, went up the same with four of his Fraternity, and carry’d an Iron Chain and a Kettle, which were no sooner let down into the hole, but they were immediately melted; yet not so discourag’d, they resolv’d to venture a second time with stronger Materials, which nevertheless had the same, or rather worse event; for the Fire flew out in such a manner, that the Dominicans sadly scorch’d, had enough to do to escape with Life, since which none durst presume to approach the same.

But besides the Episcopal City Leon, Erected by Franciscus Fernandez, 2. Granada acknowledges the same Builder, and lying also on the shore of Laguna de Nicaragua, is adorn’d with a Castle, Church, and several Sugar-Mills: Not far from it lie the small Lakes Masaya and Lindiri; the first which is inclos’d between exceeding high Mountains, covers the Foot of the burning Mountain Masaya; the other falls into Laguna de Nicaragua, near which is the smoky Mountain Munbacho, surrounded with Fruit-Trees.

3. & 4. The Towns Jean, and Neuva Segovia, which are not far from thence, are of little consequence.

5. Realeio, this is, as it were, the Chattam of America, being a place on the South-Sea, where the King of Spain hath all his Ships built that are made of American Timber, and inhabited by few or none but Shipwrights, Mariners, and Men of that kind of Profession.

6. & 7. Nicoya, Avarines.

8. Cartago, forty Leagues distant from Nicoya, and lying almost in the midst of the Isthmus, or Streight of Darien, equally distant both from the North and South Sea; on both which it is said likewise to have a convenient Port or Haven for Shipping.

Strange manner of Dancing.

The Spaniards, when first they Landed here, call’d this Countrey Mahomets Paradise, because of its exceeding Fruitfulness. The Cacao which they use here in stead of Money, is not unlike the Stone of an Almond. The Inhabitants, in stead of using a Steel and Flint to strike Fire withal, rub two pieces of Wood together so long, till one of them is kindled; and burn the Boughs of Pine-Trees in stead of Candles. Amongst the several Languages which they speak, the Mexican is the chiefest: Amongst their Recreations, Dancing is principal, which is perform’d after a very strange manner, for they meet sometimes two or three thousand together, according to the bigness of the Province, in a spacious Field, which is made clean before for that purpose: He that leads the Dance goes backward, and with many strange Gestures, turns himself about, which the rest, following four and four together in a row, imitate, whilst their Tambores beat on hollow Instruments, and sing Songs, which are first answer’d by the Ring-leader of the Dance, and then seconded by the whole Company, each of them waving a Fan or a Callabash, and being all adorn’d with Plumes of Feathers on their Heads, and Strings with Shells about their Arms and Legs; they also act several antick Tricks, the one, the blind Man, the other, the Cripple, one feigns himself to be deaf, the other makes a wry Mouth, one cries, and another laughs, whilest others drink healths in Chocolate, which continues till Midnight.