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

Constitutions of the Tartars and Americans agree.

In Popaina they live to this day like some Tartars, without Laws or Law-givers, who change their places by turns, from the great increase of the Tartars, the Americans no ways differ.

Bartholomeus de las Casas writ to Charles the Fifth, That the Spaniards in few years, onely on the Islands Cuba, Hispaniola, Naco, Hondures, in Venezuela and New Spain, destroy’d above 2600000. Men, besides the slaughter that was made in Peru, Brasil, Rio de la Plata and other places, which far exceed the foremention’d numbers.

Polygamy is still in use, both among the Tartars and Americans; both acknowledge the Immortality of the Soul, both like Cannibals, Eating and Sacrificing Mans flesh. How famous amongst the Antients was the Altar of Diana in Taurica Chersonesus, where several Men were daily Sacrificed? How delicate, according to Sabellicus, did the Tartars account their Dishes, Sauc’d and serv’d with humane Gore?

Geogr. l. 11 q. 7.

Strabo relates, That the antient People account it an honourable Death to be chop’d in pieces, and their flesh serv’d up in Commons. Those that die by Age, a natural death, are despis’d like Malefactors, and as a punishment according to their Demerits, left in the open Fields, a prey to Birds and Beasts; some delight in that loathsome gorging themselves with Mens flesh, others on the contrary, not onely detest humane, but all manner of flesh: And just so the Americans are distinguish’d, for although the Caribes, Brasilians, the Inhabitants of New Spain, New Granada, St. Martha, and others, Sacrifice and eat Men, yet as many abhor and detest that odious Diet and abominable Custom.

Giles Flesher Queen Elisabeths Agent in Muscow relates, That Anno 1588. Kinach Morsey, Grandson to the Governor of the Chrim Tartars, made his entrance there with a Retinue of three hundred Noblemen, and two Ladies, of which one was the Widow of his deceased Brother. The great Prince inform’d of their coming, sent him two slaughter’d Horses, whose sides and Hanches they feasted on, as we on Fallow Deer.

Devil-worship in Americ.

Most of the Tartars use no manner of Letters or Characters; in the Voyage made into Persia, they first learn’d to make Letters; just so it is in America; their bemoaning of the dead ends in one Moneth, both by the Tartars and Americans; with a Person of Quality, the Tartars bury a live Servant; the same Custom is observ’d by some of the Americans; and so much do they agree in a salvage and rude life, that Merchandizing and Mechanicks are little regarded. Ayson the American acknowledges the Tartars for a rude People in their Religion, Habits, and Dwellings, and yet in all these the Americans differ but very little. Lastly, How common is it amongst them to worship the Devil? Along the River Sagadahoc, the Inhabitants are every new Moon miserably tormented by an Evil Spirit call’d Tanto. In the Temples in Virginia remain yet the horrible Images of the Devils Oka and Menetto. Not a House in Mexico, but hath a peculiar Chappel, set apart for this their suppos’d holy, but damnable Adoration of the Devil. Others in Virginia believe, That there is a great and supreme Deity, which is Everlasting, and for ever. The Tartars also are of the like perswasion.

Tartarian Horses.