The Countrey hath many rich Mynes of Silver in it, and some of Gold; the chief of which are by Herera reported to be these, viz. 1. Those of Puchuca, fourteen Leagues distant from Mexico. 2. Of Tasco. 3. Talpuiana. 4. Cultepeque. 5. Zacualpa. 6. Zupanguo, and divers others.
The rest of the Villages are Guatitlan, Tenyauca, Escapusalco, Tacuba, and Suchimilco.
Strange Fountain.
The neighboring Province Xilotepeck, which is exceeding fruitful, is also famous for two Fountains, whereof one near the Village Queretaro produces boyling Water, which when cool’d, is a wholsom Drink for Cattel: The other for four years is full of Water, and for four years after it is empty; in great rainy Seasons it is quite dry, and in droughty Weather it overflows.
Between the Villages Queretaro and San Juan, is a Plain which extends it self seven Leagues in breadth, and seven in length, besides two Leagues farther beyond Quartero, where a hundred thousand Head of Cattel, and ten thousand Horses, find plentiful Pasture.
The wonderful Mountain Nevada.
The Mountain Nevada, near the City De los Angelos, deserves no small admiration; for it begins at thirty Leagues end to rise exceeding high, and being flat on the top, hath a wide gaping Mouth, whose bottom is fathomless; from which at Sun-rising and setting rises a Smoak up directly towards the Skie, but immediately after spreading like a Plume of Feathers, it is dispers’d by the Wind, and no more seen till it appears in a dusky Cloud. With the Smoak are also Ashes vomited up; yet the Mountain is very pleasantly planted with lofty Cypress, Cedar, Oak, and Pine-Trees. The neighboring Fields abound likewise with Wheat, Cotton, and Maiz. There seldom appears any Rain here.
At the Foot of this Mountain lies the Village Tepecco, famous for the Crystal and Allom gotten there. The Village Ocotlan is also maintain’d by the same: But Tuculala by Gold-Mines, and fruitful Lands, which are twice a year shaken by Earthquakes; wherefore the Inhabitants live not in Stone Houses, but in little Straw Huts.
South-Eastward from Nerada is excellent Sugar to be had, and on the Mountain it self the famous Gum Anime, which drops out of a Tree call’d Jetaiba, which is always green, with hard white Wood, a pale yellow speckled Bark, three long soft Leaves hanging one over another on one Stalk, and the Fruit on the middle of the Body. After the rainy Season is past in October, then they cut a Hole in the Body of the Tree, out of which the Gum drops: it hath a pleasant smell, and is exceeding good against the Head-ache occasion’d by Colds.
Not far from hence appears the Valleys Matalzingo and Atzompam, which have excellent Pastures, in which Diego Nunnez de Camargo bred forty thousand Sheep out of two in ten years time.