The new Kingdom of Granada, as ’tis commonly call’d, was for the most part both discover’d and conquer’d by Gonsalvo Ximenes, about the Year 1536. and with so good success, that in less than a years space, the whole Countrey was quietly setled under the Spaniards Government, and the Captain with his small Company had made shift to gather together such a Mass of Treasure as may seem almost incredible, viz. from the Reguli, or petty Princes of those Countreys, whom he had either destroy’d or made Tributary. But a more particular Relation of Ximenes his Journey take as followeth:
Gustavo Ximenes his Expedition.
Being sent out by Peter Ferdinando de Lugo, to discover the Countreys that lay along the River Magdalena, he travell’d upon the right side of it with great trouble; for not onely the brambly Woods, Moors, and deep Brooks, made the Way exceeding bad to be travell’d, but also the Inhabitants, who fell upon him from their Ambuscades: yet at last he reach’d Tora, which Name he chang’d into Pueblo de los Bracos, because four Rivers unite their Waters there. Here ordering his Brigantines which were come up the River to cast their Anchors, he judg’d it convenient to stay all the Winter, because the swoln Rivers had drown’d the adjacent Countrey. Ximenes observing that the Indians fetch’d Salt from the Sea-side, judg’d that the Countrey was inhabited, and therefore in fair Weather march’d up to the Mountain Opou, behind which he found a Countrey full of Salt-pools, which produc’d Cakes of Salt. And somewhat farther the Province Govern’d by the Casique Bogata, who at first resisting the Spaniards, was soon put to flight, when he heard the noise of the Guns. The Panches divided from Bogata’s Countrey by a small Mountain, also maintaining continual Wars with him, suffer’d the Spaniards unmolested to travel through their Countrey, and the Valley La Trompetta, to a high barren Mountain, on the top of which Ximenes found several Emeraulds; and going from thence fell upon the Casique Tunia, and three days Journey farther, upon the Governors Sagamosa and Diutama; from which three Countreys he carried above a hundred and ninety thousand pieces of fine Gold, fifty five thousand pieces of indifferent Gold, and eighteen hundred Emeraulds; all which the Spaniards left behind with Guards whilest they went back to Bogata whom they found lying dead of his Wounds on a high Hill: But Sagipa, Bogata’s Successor, receiv’d Ximenes with great Civility, to engage his Assistance against his Neighbors the Panches; which he did not refuse him: but afterwards he fell most perfidiously upon the said Sagipa, whom he caus’d to be Executed, because he either could not, or would not discover where those Riches were which Bogata had left behind him. After he had pillag’d the little Region Neyba, and brought into subjection the whole Countrey, he gave it the Name of New Granada, from Granada the place of his Nativity, being the chief City of the Kingdom of Granada in Spain, and built the City Santa Fe; which done, he quitted the Place, upon information that Sebastian de Bevalcazar coming from Popayan, was seeking a Way Northward; and not long after him Nicholas Federman follow’d, each claiming New Granada as their Right, whereas Ximenes alledg’d, That the first Discovery thereof was to be ascribed to him onely: at last Agreeing, they resolv’d that it should be at the King of Spain’s disposal.
The Nature and Custom of the Moxas.
The antient Inhabitants, nam’d Moxas, divided their Countrey into two chief Principalities, viz. Bogota and Tunica, which before the Spaniards Arrival were each under their particular Casique or Prince. The Men were of a good proportion; the Women also handsomer, and of a fairer Complexion than their Neighbors: Their Habit also consisted of black, white, and divers colour’d Cotton Cloaks, and some also had Bonnets of the same. The temperateness of the Climate makes little difference between Winter and Summer. Their Houses were of Planks, and cover’d with long Rushes. Their chiefest Food was Maiz and Cassave, which first grows on Stalks as large as Canes, containing very large and weighty Spikes or Ears, each Ear generally yielding seven hundred Grains, which are Planted in hot and moist Ground; one Bushel Sow’n, generally produces three hundred. But the Maiz is distinguish’d into a courser or finer sort, which last is call’d Moroche, the Leaves and Canes whereof afford a wholsom Provender for Horses, and the Corn, Bread for the Inhabitants, who make it several ways; for sometimes they boyl it in Water, and at other times parch it in Ashes, or grind it to Meal, which kneading into Dough, they make into Cakes, Biskets, and the like: Moreover, Maiz steep’d in Water, and after being boyl’d and set a working, makes a very strong Liquor. They also use Cassada, which they make of the Root Yuca, which being large and thick, is cut in pieces, grated, and all its Juice, which is deadly poyson, being press’d out, is Bak’d in thin Cakes. There is likewise another sort of Yuca, which hath not so poysonous a Juice, keeping good a long time, and is both wholsom, and of a good taste. The Natives of old liv’d much upon the Roots Yomus, and Cubias, all sorts of Venison, Fowls, and Fish, which the Rivers and Lakes afford in great abundance. Those that are left of the Natives, are a deceitful, crafty, and ingenious sort of People, very apt to learn Art, and to Trade with Salt to Rio Grande, and the Mountain Opou.
Besides Copper and Steel-Mines, this Countrey hath also several of Gold; and the Fields produce all manner of Plants.
The Nature of the Panchas.
The Panchas which remain are yet a salvage People, but their Countrey is an indifferent fertile Soil, though not in all places alike; for those which border upon Tunia fed much heretofore on Pismires, of which some being long, have double Wings, others lesser and without Wings; which last sort being roasted, are accounted a great Dainty, and a speedy Remedy against the Distemper of the Gravel. There are also a sort of venomous Pismires, which stinging a Man, cause a swelling and great itching, and these are call’d Tayoques, whose Stings are cur’d by a Plaister of bruis’d Pismires.
The Bounds and Dimensions of Nova Granada.
The Countrey is bounded on the North with Castella Aurea aforesaid; on the West, with Mare del Zur; on the East, with Venezuela; the Southern parts of it being not well discover’d, by reason of certain huge and unpassable Mountains, which block it up wholly on that side, save onely where a Passage is kept open into the Province of Peru, specially so call’d: It containeth in length about a hundred and thirty Leagues, and not much less in breadth, being for the most part a very healthful Countrey, and abounding in Mines of the best sort of Metal, besides others of Brass and Iron. It is subdivided into these two Provinces, viz. Granada and Popayana.