The Herb Cevadilla cures all manner of Sores.
Beasts.
This Countrey also breeds an innumerable company of Deer, Hogs, Goats, Sheep, Oxen, and Horses; and of hurtful Creatures, Pismires, which do great mischief to the Plants, and Locusts, which fall in huge swarms on the Corn, and cannot be frighted from the same by any means whatsoever. The want of Water is also no small prejudice to the Fields.
The biggest River, call’d Guadalajara, with many windings runs North-westward into the Southern Ocean; and four Leagues from the City of the same, falling down from a steep Rock, it makes such a horrible noise, that it deafens those which approach the same.
The Lake Mechoacan opens here also with a wide Mouth.
Two sorts of Hedge-hogs.
The River before mention’d, produces all manner of Fish in great abundance; and also a sort of Hedge-hogs, call’d Iguana, which live both in the Water, and on the Land, and are of two sorts: The first, call’d Senembi, is four Foot long, of a deep green colour, with black and white Spots, hath a scaly Skin, white Spots on each side of the Head, a row of sharp Prickles from the Head to the Tail, wide Nostrils, great black Eyes, and little Teeth. The second sort, call’d Tejaguacu, differs from the first, in having white Spots on a brown Skin, a longer Tail, and a red Tongue, which is slit. Both sorts are reported to fast eight Moneths together; and though often terribly wounded, and dead to all imagination, yet live a great while after; and though they swim up and down in Rivers, yet they Lay their Eggs in the Sand: their Flesh boyl’d is both wholsom, and of a good relish.
The manner of the Spaniards living.
The Spaniards which inhabit New Gallicia, drive a considerable Trade in Merchandizing, Husbandry, breeding of Cattel, and working in the Mines: They use Wayns and Carrs, drawn by Oxen, Mules, and Horses, to carry their Loads, as also Spanish Weights and Measures. They are little troubled with any other Mischiefs but what may happen from the treacherous Natives, who take all opportunities to run into the Woods, that there they may exercise their Pagan Religion in freedom; in which having spent some time, they gather a considerable number together, and oftentimes fall unawares on the Spaniards, who use Leather Shields and Helmets, and furr’d Cotton Clothes, to secure them from the Arrows which the Indians, lying in Ambuscades, shoot at them out of the Bushes.
The Nature, Habits, and Customs of the Natives.