The Countrey Buritaca affords the Inhabitants Gold; Tairona, excellent Stones against Bleeding and the Gravel, Jasper, Porphyr, and Gold; the Valley Tunia, many rich Emeraulds, which Stones us’d to be in great esteem before America produc’d such great numbers of them. Acosta relates, That a Spaniard desiring to know the Price of an Emerauld, shew’d two to an Italian Jeweller, who valu’d the one at a hundred, the other at three hundred Ducats; but soon after seeing a Chest full of them, said they were scare worth a Ducat apiece; and that the Sute which the Roman Lady wore, being beset with Emeraulds, and valu’d at four hundred thousand Ducats, would not sell now for half so much. This Stone or Jewel exceedingly fortifies the Sight, wherefore the Emperor Nero represented the bloody Encounters of Fencers in an Emerauld. It is also judg’d to be good against the Falling-sickness, wherefore the Indians hang them in their Noses to this day, and adorn their Idols with them; they grow in stony Rocks along Veins, not unlike Crystal, and in time obtain a glittering Greenness; the biggest of them that are found in this Age are most esteem’d of in Genua. The Emerauld Pillar, which as a wonderful Ornament stood in Hercules’s Temple in the City of Tyrus, being very famous amongst the Antients, was without doubt no more than a green Stone; and perhaps of the same Material, was the Pillar erected by the Arabian King Miramamolines, in the Cathedral at Corduba. But the great fame of these Emeraulds incited Gonzalvez Zimenes, Governor of St. Martha, to leave his Place and seek for them; to which end he Sail’d up the Rivulet Gayra with two Ketches and forty five Spaniards, who meeting with the Casique Bagotta, got much Gold of him, and afterwards went to the Valley Tessuca; of which Simandoca being Governor, conducted Ximenez twenty three Leagues farther to an Emerauld Rock, from whence he return’d exceedingly enriched; the rumor of which spreading up and down, made several travel thither; amongst whom was Peter di Lugo, Governor of Terra Firma, who sending for Aid from Carthagena, fought his way to Bagotta, who resisted him for some time, till at last being defeated he made Peace with them for a considerable quantity of Gold; which when Peter di Lugo had receiv’d, not regarding his Word, he plunder’d all the Countrey, and having committed all imaginable Cruelties on the Natives, return’d home with an invaluable Mass of Gold and Emeraulds to St. Martha. Not long after the Welsares, German Knights, came from Venezuela, (which City the Emperor Charles the Fifth Morgag’d to them Anno 1518.) and travell’d through the snowy Mountains of St. Martha with Indian Guides, whose Instructions following, they digg’d many Emeraulds out of the Valley Funia; the Inhabitants of which affrighted at the sight of the Strangers, hang’d themselves out of despair, though naturally valiant, and ingenious in working in Tapestry the shapes of Tygers, Lyons, and other Beasts, and painting on the Walls of their Houses variety of Figures of divers colours, covering their Floors with Mats neatly pleited of Rushes. They fed on Fish, Venison, and Mans-flesh, and also on the Roots Agies, tasting like Chesnuts, Yuca, Maiz, Batata, and Cassada.
Chief Cities and Places of note.
The chief Cities and Places of principal note in this Province are 1. St. Martha, which gives Denomination to the whole Province, it stands built at the North Sea, which makes a large and convenient Harbor, being defended from the Winds by high Mountains and two Isles, is a Bishop’s See, and hath a large Cathedral. The Houses built of Canes are cover’d with Palmito-Trees, and some with woodden Shingles. The Haven hath neither Fort nor Castle to defend it, because there is no Trade but with the Indians, which bring Earthen Ware and Cotton Clothes to sell; and because the Spanish Ships seldom come hither, the Place is much gone to decay, and the more, because it is no way defended against any Assault of an Enemy, which the French, and afterwards the English, under the Command of Sir Francis Drake, and the following Year under Captain Anthony Shirley took advantage of, and plunder’d and burnt the City.
2. Teneriff, built on the Banks of the River Magdalena, forty Leagues from St. Martha.
3. Tamalameque, otherwise call’d Villa de las Palmas, twenty Leagues South of Teneriff, lying on a high stony Ground; between which are plain Pastures for Cattel, surrounded with high Woods, as also Pools made by the over-flowing of the Rivers, whose Banks are inhabited by the Indians, who are much addicted to Sleep and Drinking. The Pools before mention’d produce abundance of Fish, as also Crocodiles, and the terrible Manati before describ’d.
4. Ocanna, which hath an Inland Haven.
5. Ramada, formerly call’d New Salamanca, standing at the Foot of the Mountain call’d Sierras Nevadas. This Town is famous for its Copper and Brass Mines.
6. Cividad de los Reyes, which built in the Valley Upari, stands on the Shore of the mighty River Guataporeya, where from the beginning of January till May the Eastern Breezes moderate the Heat, otherwise intolerable: But the continual Rains thereabout occasions the Quartan Ague, and many such like Distempers. The Natives hereabouts, salvage and valiant, would never submit to the Spaniards.
The Tree Xagua.
The peculiar Plants of this Place are the Tree Xagua, which bears a Fruit like a Raisin, which dry’d and ground yields exceeding good Meal for Bread.