New Gallicia, by some call’d Guadalajara, from the chief City. This whole Province is the most Northern Countrey of all America, that is inhabited to any purpose by the Spaniards. Here, ’tis true, they are scatter’d up and down in all the parts of it, but it is at a huge distance, and for the most part onely where the Mines are. It is bounded on the East and to the South, with the Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain; on the West, with the Gulf or Bay of California; Northward, for so much as is yet discover’d, with Quivira and Cibola, lying between eighteen and twenty eight Degrees of Northern Latitude, that is, from La Natividad, a Port so nam’d by the Spaniards, in the Confines of New Spain, to the most Northerly Borders of Cinoloa, a part of this Province, containing, as is suppos’d, not much less than three hundred Leagues in length, and in breadth much more; and whereof not a tenth part is either us’d or frequented by the Spaniards.
Temperature and Nature of the Countrey.
The Air is generally here very temperate, inclining rather to Heat than Cold, and subject now and then to sudden Storms of Rain, and great Claps of Thunder, which yet do not hinder, but that the Countrey is held to be reasonably healthful, and the People observ’d to live generally to a good old Age. The Soil, by reason of the Climate, would be a little inclining to Drought, but that, besides the frequent Rains which it hath, it is constantly moistned with fresh Morning Dews, which make it for the most part wonderfully fruitful, almost beyond belief, yielding for every Bushel of Wheat that is sown, threescore; and of Maiz, two hundred for one; besides great plenty of Sugar-Canes and Cochinele; both which nevertheless the Spaniards are said to neglect in some sort, employing themselves wholly about richer Commodities: for the Countrey affords them good store of Mines of Silver and Brass, but of Gold or Iron, not many as yet have been found. The Rivers abound plentifully with Fish, and the Woods with Venison, and some other wild Beasts. The Countrey is generally more mountainous than plain, frequently shaded with Woods, and whole Forrests of the stateliest Pine-Trees and Oaks that are to be seen; amongst which breed abundance of Wolves, which do great mischief to the People, as also Scorpions and Mustiecho’s. The Hurts receiv’d from Scorpions, are heal’d with the Juice of the Fruit call’d Queon; those from the Mustiecho’s, by Vinegar and the Juice of Lemmon. Here is likewise a green Stone, accounted a soveraign Medicine against the Gravel.
Several sorts of Tunas-Trees.
The Trees peculiar to this Countrey, are, the Tunas, already spoken of in Guatimala, and thought to be the same we vulgarly call Indian Fig-Trees, and are distinguish’d into six sorts.
The first, by the Portuguese call’d Cardon, hath sharp Prickles, thick Leaves, full of slimy Juice, an odoriferous Flower, oval Fruit, cover’d with an Orange-colour’d Rind, and small Roots: The Fruit within consists of a white juicy, and well tasted Pulp, full of black Seed.
The second hath a round Body full of Boughs, with Star-like Prickles hanging downwards, the Flower white, and the Fruit very like that of the Cardon, onely smaller.
The third is the Caxabra, which shoots up to a great Tree full of prickly Cods; at the utmost end grows a large white Flower; the Fruit, which is as big again as an Egg, is pleasant and cooling.
The fourth sort hath a straight Body full of Prickles, runs lesser and lesser to the top; at the end of the small Boughs, each thick Leaf produces another; the Wood, if kindled, burns like a Candle.