This part of the Countrey hath been reasonably well search’d by the Spaniards, but as yet nothing discover’d so considerable, as to perswade them to stay in it.
That which seems most observable, is the great Lake Tonteac, situate almost in the midst of the Province; upon which, or near unto it, they found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives, some whereof contain’d four or five hundred of their Cottages or little Houses, and were fortifi’d also with Ramparts, and other Works of Defence, so as the Spaniards could not become Masters of them, but by Force and Storming: In the attempt whereof Vasquez Coronado, their Commander in chief, was twice beaten down with Stones by the Natives; yet at last carrying the Place, he found in it good plenty of Maiz indeed, which was some refreshment to his Army, but nothing else: whereupon having nam’d the Place Granada, in memory of the Vice-Roy of New Spain, who sent him upon that Expedition, he departed. In his return homeward he fell upon a certain Countrey, which he nam’d Tucayan, of which his Companions report great matters; as first, of a certain River call’d Huex, on the Banks whereof, in the space of twenty Leagues, or thereabouts, there stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs, well built, and furnish’d likewise with Stoves or Hot-houses, against the Cold, as in other Countreys of Europe; as also of a very fruitful and pleasant Valley, which they therefore call’d Aroba de Corazones; of another great Town and Territory, call’d Chichilticala; and lastly, of the Valley of Nuestra Sennora, or Our Ladies Dale, in the South parts of the said Territory, all of them describ’d for such rich and delicious Places, that some take them for the Campi Elisii of America, especially seeing the Spaniards were never known to visit them a second time, the Discoveries that have been made since being onely of the North-West Parts of the Countrey, along the Coasts of Mar Vermiglio, and this no farther than onely to give Name to certain Capes or Promontories which they met with, as namely 1. Porto de St. Clara, near to the Mouth of the River which they call Rio del Nordt. 2. Las Playas. 3. St. Michael. 4. Lago del Oro, which bordereth on Quivira; and lastly, El Rey Coronado, Eastward of that.
Tontonteac.
Tontonteac is mention’d by so few, and by those few so obscurely, that it cannot well be determin’d to be any other than that Countrey which lies about the great Lake Tonteac, above spoken of in Cibola, and which being made Habitable by six or seven Towns not inconsiderable for Habitations of native Indians, might haply pass for a distinct Province. And perhaps the reason why this Province hath been so obscure, and little taken notice of, might be from the ruine of these Towns by War, or some other Accident: and to this purpose are the words of a late Writer, The Province of Tontonteac (saith he) hath five Houses onely left, which stand on the Shore of a salt Lake.
Nova Granada a Province of Northern America.
Nova Granada, besides that it is a generally known and describ’d Province of Southern America, is also nam’d amongst the Provinces of Northern America, particularly by Bertius, Cluverius, and Golnitzius, and in some late Maps of America so conspicuously specifi’d, that it might appear to be all that Tract of Land which contains both New Mexico and the several Provinces adjoyning to it; but since we find it not describ’d by any at large, it will with most verisimility pass for that part of New Mexico where stands the City of St. Foy; and this is most plainly express’d by Monsieur Martini, though there are who confound Cibola with New Granada. Waving which Decision, we shall onely insert a short Description of the Place, according to Cornato, who seems to have been one of the first Discoverers of these Parts, and whose Credit is preferr’d before that of Marcus de Niza.
Its Description.
Nova Granada (saith he) consists of seven Villages, built in the circumference of four Leagues, the chiefest whereof boasts two hundred Houses, which for the most part are four or five Stories high, and built of Stone; the Cellars thereto belonging, being neatly Pav’d, serve for Stoves against the Cold: they ascend to their upper Rooms by Ladders. The Inhabitants go naked, onely some Covering about their Middle, and over their Shoulders Cotton Cloaks, painted with divers Colours. They live on Maiz, white Pease, Hares, Rabbets, and Venison: their Salt wherewith they season the same, they fetch from a neighboring Lake. The Turkies, which they have in great numbers, are kill’d onely for their Feathers, notwithstanding their Flesh is exceeding good Meat. The Soil is for the most part plain, yet hath some high Mountains; and the Pastures flourish with Grass. The Woods abound with Bears, Tygers, Lyons, wild Hogs, Rhinocerots, and the like ravenous Beasts, which make the Ways dangerous for Travellers. Besides large Deer, there are also Sheep, which in bigness may compare with Horses, having exceeding great Horns, and little Tails.
Concerning the abundance of Turkoises, of which Niza makes mention, Cornato could give no certain account, because a little before his Arrival the Granadians had convey’d their Children, which were under fifteen, and the aged People, who were above sixty years of age, with their chiefest Goods, into remote places. However, it is not unknown, that this Countrey affords Turkoises; for Cornato in his Journey to Quivira, Besieg’d a City in these Parts near a great River; the Inhabitants whereof, when they were not able to defend themselves any longer, throwing their Cloaks, Turkoises, and other Riches into the Fire, Sallied out upon the Spaniards, and died not altogether unreveng’d, as shall be specifi’d more at large in the Description of Tignes, which being nam’d among the Towns of Quivira, will upon the comparing of Circumstances, be apparently found to be the same with this.
Lastly, New Granada hath no Fruit-Trees, but little Cedars fit for Building.