America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

The Flood which comes out of the Sea up to the City St. Michael, through the River Cignatlan, abounds with Fish, and especially the Guarapucu, which is seven Foot long when it comes to its full growth; it hath no Scales, but smooth Skin of a Silver colour mix’d with Green: from the Head to the Tail runs a crooked Line of thin Scales on each side; it swims exceeding swift, feeds on lesser Fishes, and spawns in the Sea: the Flesh being wholsom and good to eat, is salted up against Winter. At the same Place is also the Piracarba, which shines exceedingly, having Silver-colour’d Scales, a broad slit Tail, a long white Beard, four great Fins, and a little Head. Farther into the Sea are a sort of flying Fish, call’d Pirabebes, which rise by thousands up out of the Water, so escaping the Dolphins and other Fish which prey on them; yet sometimes they are snatch’d up by the Birds, or else by the Fishes, when they dive down into the Water to wet their own Wings, which consist of a thin Skin, distinguish’d in length by tough Fins. These flying Fish also differ much one from another, for most of them are like Herrings; others have a thick Head, round before like the Dolphins.

Moreover, the Countrey about St. Michael was always well inhabited. The Houses, being artificially built, were adorn’d on the top with many obscene Images, and venereal Representations: But since the Spaniards have conquer’d this Countrey they have destroy’d them, and built other Houses in their stead, and also bestow’d much cost and labour on the Silver Mines De las Virgines.

Sect. VI.
Cinoloa.

Bounds of Cinoloa.

Cinoloa is the most Northern part of New Gallicia, bounded on the West, with some part of the Gulf or Bay of California; on the East, with a long Ridge of Mountains, which they call Tepecsuan; on the North, with Cibola; and with Couliacan on the South. This Country, besides the general fertility of the whole Province of New Gallicia, yields great store of Cotton-Wool, by reason whereof both Men and Women here are better Apparell’d, for the most part, than elsewhere the Americans are; is exceedingly well water’d with Rivers, which descend from those Mountains Tepecsuan, not above thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Sea; and which, with the variety of their Streams and Meandrous glidings, do divide the Countrey into many and good Pastures, which are likewise stor’d with abundance of Kine, Oxen, and other Cattel.

Towns.

The chief Towns possess’d by the Spaniards are 1. St. Philip and Jacob, seated towards the Sea side, on the Banks of a fair River, about thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Town of Couliacan.

2. St. John de Cinoloa, an ancient Colony of Spaniards, setled there by Francisco de Yvarra, in the Year 1554, which is all they have in this Countrey, except some few old Forts of the Natives, which they found, after their manner, poorly furnish’d; but have since repair’d them for Defence against the Natives of those Parts, which as yet remain unreduc’d.

Nunnez de Gusman’s Travels.

This Province was also discover’d by Nunnez de Gusman, who having rested some Weeks in St. Michael, proceeding on his Way, he Ferried over the River Petatlan, which receiv’d that Denomination because the Houses were cover’d with Mats, by the Indians call’d Petat.