Bounds of the Country.
Guatimala, specially so call’d, hath on the West the River Xicalapa, which divides it from Vera Paz; on the East it is bounded with the Countrey of Nicaragua; on the North, with Honduras; and on the South, with Mare del Zur.
This Countrey was conquer’d by Peter de Alvarado, Anno 1525. It is, by reason of its neighborhood with Vera Paz, not altogether clear of Mountains, but otherwise well water’d with Rivers, and enrich’d with fair and fruitful Valleys, which afford not onely good Pasturage, and many great Herds of Cattel, but likewise good store of Wheat, Maiz, and other Fruits of the Earth. Great plenty of Cotton-Wool is generally both here and in the other Provinces, viz. Vera Paz, Chiapa, &c. some Medicinal Woods likewise, and Liquors, and absolutely the best Sulphur in America. The People are generally tractable and well dispos’d, both in point of Religion and civil Government.
Towns of note.
The Towns of chief note are 1. Guatimala, now call’d St. Jago de Guatimala since the re-building thereof; for about the Year 1586. it was almost buried in Ashes, which one of the neighboring Mountains, for the space of six Moneths together, continually belch’d out in such fearful quantities, that many People were slain, the old City deserted, and a new one built in another place. The day before this sad Accident hapned, the neighboring Mountains were observ’d to shiver, and a great noise was heard from under Ground; which amazing the Indians, the news thereof was carried to the Bishop, Franciscus Moroquin, who narrowly enquiring into the Causes of these Accidents, and what they might portend, found that a sad Event would suddenly follow, as accordingly it did; for about midnight on the eighth of August, Anno 1541. such a mighty store of Rain fell, as if the Clouds had been all dissolv’d into Water, which came rowling from the Rocky Mountains with such violence, that it wash’d down great Stones, which carried on by the strength of the Water against the Houses, beat them down; and none could have seen how they were ruin’d, had not the mighty flashes of Lightning, follow’d by terrible claps of Thunder, lighted the Night. Some instantly deserting this miserable place, fled up into the Countrey, and there built a new Guatimala (as above-mention’d) sur-nam’d St. Jago, three Leagues farther towards the East, in a Valley through which flow two Rivers, between two Vulcans, or smoaking Mountains, which sometimes vomit forth terrible Flames, mix’d with dreadful Thunder-claps, Ashes, and great Stones, insomuch that the Ground all about it, which is exceeding fruitful, seems to move. There are many of these Vulcans in several parts of America, as namely at Arequipa in the Kingdom of Peru, at Puebla de los Angelos, in the Province of Tlascalla abovesaid, a Mountain of so great heighth, that they are fain to go little less than thirty Leagues turning and winding before they can reach the top of it, and others in several other places. They are generally Mountains of great heighth, and running sharp upwards, but at the top containing some quantity of plain and level Ground; in the midst whereof is a Pit or Hole, out of which abundance of Smoak and fiery Sparkles are vomited almost continually, and so deep, that they are suppos’d for the most part to reach to the very bottom of the Mountain. Some of these Vulcans cast forth neither Fire nor Smoak, yet are clearly seen to burn at the bottom with a quick Fire, and which is so extreamly hot, that it instantly melteth Iron, or any other Metal that is cast into it, as by experience hath been found: for some conceiving that the Matter which maintains these Fires within the Bowels of the Earth so long together, can be nothing else but melted Gold, have endeavor’d several times to extract and draw it forth in certain Vessels of Iron and Brass, which they have caus’d to be let down into the bottom of the Vulcan or Pit, by long Iron Chains made on purpose: but, as we said, the extream heat and force of the Fire below always melted them before they could be drawn up again, and by that means hath rendred all such Attempts frustrate. In this Town, now call’d St. Jago, reside above six hundred Spanish Commanders, and more than twenty five thousand Indians which pay Tribute. They have also a brave Church and two Cloysters, one belonging to the Dominicans, and another to the Order La Merced, and likewise a noble Hospital. Not far from thence is a place call’d Yzaleos, where there are Orchards of Cacoa two Leagues in square, each of them producing yearly as much as fifty thousand Men are able to carry. They reckon the Cacao by Contels, which is the number of four hundred; by Xequipiles, of eight thousand; and by Carga’s, of twenty four thousand. In this County is a Mountain, whose top smoaking continually consumes by degrees, and oftentimes covers the neighboring Countrey with Ashes. The Water which flows from the same differs very much, for some of it is wholsom and fit to drink; some foul and stinking, and some turns Wood, if laid in the same, to Stone. Here is also the Beast whose Head is highly esteem’d for the Bezoar-Stone, which it carries in the same. Here is likewise a little Bear, which in stead of a Mouth, hath a long Nose with a round Hole in it, and a hollow Tongue, with which it sucks Honey, and disturbs the Nests of Pismires. The Women in this Place make curious Earthen Ware, colour’d either red or black with the Mud of two several Brooks. The Indians call’d the boyling Fountains in this County Hell, because they bubble up a Bowes-shot high, and make the River Caliente, which, notwithstanding it hath pass’d half a League through a wide Channel, retains its exceeding heat. Not far from it lies a Stone, which having a Crack in the middle, sends forth a thick Damp, and against bad Weather a thundering noise. On the Mountains grow exceeding large Trees, especially Oak. Here Pismires which are of an extraordinary bigness, are brought to Market amongst other Provisions.
2. St. Salvador, forty Leagues distant from Guatimala Eastward, and seated upon the River Guacapa, and having about it a small Territory, which by some is accounted a distinct Countrey or Province.
3. Acaputla, a Town of the Natives, situated at the Mouth of the River, and being as it were, the Port-Town to St. Salvador.
4. Trinidad, a Town of great resort, being the greatest Empory and Place of Traffick for all sorts of Commodities, betwixt the People of New Spain and those of Peru.
5. St. Michaels, two or three Leagues distant from the Bay Fonseca, upon the South Sea.
6. Xeres de la Frontera, on the Confines of this Province, towards the Borders of Nicaragua, besides several Villages which we shall have occasion to mention.