Towns.
The Spanish Towns are these, 1. Hiustula, seated on the Banks of a fair River, distant about a days Journey from the Sea. 2. Quinola. 3. Quatrobarrios, an old Town of the Natives, but new nam’d by the Spaniards. 4. El Leon, an old Burrough. 5. Couliacan, the chief Town of the Province. 6. St. Michael, in the Valley of Arroba, two Leagues distant from the Sea, in a rich and plentiful Countrey, both for Corn and Fruit, whither it was remov’d from the Banks of the River Orala, where it first stood; it was built by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1531. after he had burnt the Towns, and destroy’d a great number of the Natives, Inhabitants of the Countrey.
Nunnez de Gusman first Discoverer of this Countrey.
Serpents worshipp’d by the Natives.
This Countrey was first discover’d by the aforesaid Nunnez de Gusman (after he had built Guadalajara) after this manner: Marching from Chiametla to Piatzala, he ruin’d this Province with Fire and Sword: he likewise conquer’d the Countreys of Zapuatun and Piaztla; the first being a Plain, lay inclos’d within high Mountains, where the Spaniards met none but Women, till they came to a great River call’d De la Sall, whose Banks on each side were well inhabited; the second juts against the Ocean, and is water’d by a River of the same Denomination. Here, within the Houses, (which are built after a strange manner) lay thousands of Serpents mingled together, with their Heads sticking out on the top and at the sides, and hissing with open Mouth at those which approached them. The Inhabitants shew’d great Reverence to these Serpents, because (as they said) the Devil often appear’d to them in that form. And this seems to be a Custome amongst them from the Tradition of Eves being tempted by the Devil in the shape of a Serpent: Nor was this Superstition peculiar onely to these Indians, forasmuch as divers Nations of the ancient Heathens of other parts of the World, worshipp’d the Likeness of a Serpent. And even amongst the Greeks, according to Plutarch, Hesychius, Clemens Alexandrinus, and others, it was no unusual thing in their religious Worship to call on Eva, and at the same time to shew a Serpent. Plutarchus and Ælianus say, That the Egyptians honour’d a Serpent for their God. The same saith Erasmus Stella of the old Prussians; Sigismund Baro, of the Liflanders; and Alexander Guaginus, of the Sarmatians and Samogethes. Moreover, some write, that in the Province of Calecut are Serpents with exceeding great Heads, and weighing as much as a great Hog, to which the King shews great Reverence; so that it seems the Devil takes delight to be worship’d in that shape wherein he work’d the Fall of Man-kind.
Gusman leaving Piaztla march’d to Bayla, where he found the great River De Mugeres, and the Countrey full of Woods and Pastures: thence travelling upwards along Mugueres, they ascended to the top of a Mountain, where they were assaulted by the Inhabitants of the aforesaid Village Quinola, whom nevertheless they soon put to flight; but not long after receiv’d a shrew’d Repulse at the Entrance into a Wood built full of Houses; yet nevertheless being at length Conquerors, though not without sufficient loss, they march’d farther in amongst the Mountains, till their Provisions beginning to grow scarce, and they seeing no likelihood of getting to an end of this troublesom Journey, at last their Necessities forc’d them to retire.
The Fish Guarapucu.
The Piracarba.
Flying Fishes.