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

We have seen in Magellanica the farthest, that is, the most Southerly part of the New World, and before it in order all the Western Coasts of America that lie either upon or towards Mare del Zur, viz., from Panama, the first Province of this Southern part down as far as the Straights. We are now to return and take a view of the Eastern Coasts, and those Countreys which lie upon the Atlantick Ocean, steering our Course henceforth Northward, not directly, but as the Coast leads us for a while Eastward and by North, forasmuch as the Land of America, from the Straights of Magellan up as far as Brasile, and almost to the Æquator, runneth out with a long Point, little less than three thousand Leagues together.

Situation and Description of Paraguay, or Rio de la Plata.

The first Province we meet with on this side next to Magellanica, is the Countrey of Paraguay, oftentimes call’d Rio de la Plata, from the Name of an huge River, which runneth for the most part through the midst of it: It is border’d, as we said, to the South and towards the Straights with Magellanica; on the East, with the Atlantick Ocean; more Northward, or to the North-East, it hath Brasile; and on the West those undiscover’d Countreys of the Province of Chile, of which we have spoken.

The Countrey on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and fruitful Soil, bearing besides those which are proper and native, all sorts of European Fruits and Grain in great abundance, with Sugar-Canes, both large and good, as any other Province of the New World. Nor is it excell’d by any other for good Pasturage and great Herds of Cattel, Sheep, and Swine; in particular, Horses are said to have multiply’d so here, that of thirty Mares, and about six or seven Stallions, which the Spaniards left there, in forty years the whole Countrey thereabouts was fill’d with the Breed of them, running wild in great Companies together, through all the Woods and Forrests of the Countrey, and being of excellent Mettle and Service if they could be tam’d. It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags, some Lyons, Tygers, &c. nor is it without good Mines, some both of Gold and Silver; but chiefly, as to what is yet discover’d, of Brass, and Iron; and the People altogether salvage.

The River De la Plata.

The River De la Plata, which (as we said before) divides this Countrey, is one of the largest of the whole World, rising, as ’tis suppos’d, out of the Lake call’d De los Xarayes, three hundred Leagues or more within Land, and falling into the Atlantick Ocean, or North Sea, in thirty four Degrees of Southern Latitude, with an Estuary or Mouth of thirty, or two and thirty Leagues over.

The whole Countrey is usually subdivided into three inferior Provinces, which are 1. Rio de la Plata properly so call’d. 2. Tucuman. 3. La Crux de Sierra.

Sect. II.
Rio de la Plata, properly so call’d.

Situation of Rio de la Plata, properly so call’d.

Rio de la Plata, properly so call’d, is that part of the Countrey which extendeth it self on both sides the River, in length many Leagues together, but not answerable in breadth.