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

Sect. IV.
De Spirito Sancto.

Description of the Lordship De Spirito Sancto.

Next to Rio Janeiro lies the Lordship or County De Spirito Sancto, exceeding Several strange sorts of Fish. fruitful, having divers Woods abounding with Venison. The Rivers Parayva, Manangea, Itapemeri, Iritibi, and Guarapari, are stor’d with all sorts of Fish, and amongst others the Fish Piratiapua, which in the Winter Moneths lives in the Rivers, and against the Summer returns to the Rocks wash’d by the Ocean. This Fish hath a wide Mouth full of Teeth, a reddish Tongue, little Fins, except those on their Backs, divers colour’d Scales, yet most of a dark Red, and generally weighs fifty Pound.

Here is also the Fish Paru, full of yellow Scales like Half-Moons over a black Skin; it hath long Fins near the Tail, and a little Head.

No less remarkable is the Guebucu, which hath a long Body, a sharp bonie Snout, the upper Jaw reaching over the other, no Teeth, a Tail divided in the middle, sharp Fins on the Back, and a Skin full of Silver-colour’d Prickles. This Monster not onely devours great Fishes, but also Men; when it is hungry it often runs its Snout through the side of a Ship.

But there is no Fish more deform’d than the Abacatuaja, which being oval and flat, hath two long Fins underneath, and one on the top, a divided Tail, green Fins, a smooth Skin, and fiery Eyes; as soon as it is taken it cries like a Hog.

The Serpent Boiguacu.

In this County stands a Town of the same Denomination, which contains two hundred Houses, a Sugar-Mill, and a Cloyster of Jesuits, and drives a great Trade in Cotton and Brasile Wood. Before the City lies an Inlet full of Isles, the Mouth of which is guarded by a Castle. The Natives, call’d Maigaias, are in League with the Portuguese, but the Tapuyans and Apiapetangas do them all the mischief they can possibly; so that the Portuguese travel in great danger of their lives, when any Business calls them, through the Countrey of these salvage People. But besides these People, the Way is pester’d with strange wild Beasts, especially on the Mountain Mestre Alvaro, which is seen at a great distance off at Sea; on which, amongst other Creatures, breeds the terrible Serpent Boiguacu, whose length is generally twenty four Foot; it is of an Ash colour, with great and small black Spots, with a little white Speck in the middle; when hungry, it leaps out of the Hedges, or from the tops of Trees, raises it self upright on its Tail, and winding about either Man, Beast, or whate’re it be, squeezes it to death, or puts its Tail, which ends in a sharp Point or Sting, in at the Fundament in such a manner, that it kills the Creature on which it seizeth in a moment, and then swallows it up. This Serpent hath strong Ribs inwardly, and more than seventy bonie Joynts; wherefore it turns it self with great ease; the Joynt-bones near the Head are the biggest, and grow smaller and smaller towards the Tail: It also feeds on Pismires.

The Bird Jabicu-guacu.

This County also breeds the Bird Jabicu-guacu, which exceeds the Crane in bigness, and hath a long thick Bill, but no Tongue; on his Head appears a white grisly Crest or Mitre; the Wings and Tail are short, and the Feathers most of them white, except the Pinions, which shine like Rubies; their Flesh is of a good rellish, but somewhat dry.