According to the ancient Division of the Natives, this Province contains the Countreys Curiana, Cuycas, Caracas, Bariquicemeto, Tucuyo, and Carora; in which there are estimated to be about a hundred thousand Inhabitants that pay Taxes; which Charge, according to a Law made at the Spanish Court, all Men above fifty, and Youth under eighteen, are freed from: yet this Countrey had formerly much more People, great numbers of them being destroy’d by the Germans, Anno 1529. for the Bishop Bartholomeus de las Casas relates, That above fifty hundred thousand of the Inhabitants were kill’d by them; nay, they rooted out whole Countreys, notwithstanding the Natives were ready to Entertain them with all Civility imaginable; the Particulars of the Story are as followeth:
The Expedition of Alfinger and Sayltar to Venezuela.
Alfinger’s horrid Cruelties upon the Natives.
When the Emperor Charles the Fifth Marry’d with Isabella, Daughter to the King of Portugal, Anno 1526. the Welsares, being Dutch Gentlemen in Augsburgh, made an Agreement with him for a Sum of Money, to Conquer Venezuela; whither they sent Ambrosius Alfinger, and Bartholomeus Sayltar, with four hundred Foot and eighty Horse: These Forces Landing at Venezuela, drove away Juan de Ampues, who Sailing from St. Domingo thither, had discover’d the Coast along Coriano, and already made an Agreement with a mighty Prince of that Countrey, call’d Manaure. But Alfinger marching to the Lake Maracabo, destroy’d all the Inhabitants of the Countrey Axaguas, though they came to meet him Dancing, with rich Presents of Gold; which he not regarding, kill’d them, drove some into a House, and there cut them in pieces, and burnt those that were got upon the Roof. From hence going towards the Pocabuyes, who dwelt on the West side of Maracabo, amongst high Mountains, he was Entertain’d by them a considerable time very courteously, and Presented with rich Gifts, for which at his departure he shut up both Men, Women, and Children, into a high Wall’d Park, where they were all to perish, if they did not every one pay a certain quantity of Gold to be releas’d, which not being able to raise, they all dy’d for want of Food. After the same manner he dealt with the neighboring People Alcoholados, of whom he got much Gold, but not without unheard of Cruelties, for he burnt all their Villages and Houses, ruin’d the Countrey with Fire and Sword from Thamaleque to the River Lebrixa, carry’d away many of the Natives coupled together with Chains about their Necks, and each of them loaded with at least a hundred pound weight of pillag’d Goods; and as soon as any of them began to faint under their Burthens for want of refreshment, their Heads were immediately cut off. But Alfinger coming to certain cold Mountains, was resisted by a valiant People; in which Conflict he receiv’d a Wound, of which he dy’d at his return to Coro, Anno 1532. Upon which the Welsares sent John Aleman to succeed him; but he also dying, made place for George de Espoira, and Nicholas Federman, of which two Espoira being the chief, spent three years in ranging up and down the Countrey, without any remarkable Transactions, being continually at variance with his Lieutenant Federman.
The afore-mention’d City Venezuela, otherwise call’d Caro, and by the Natives Corana, was, Anno 1559. taken and burnt by the English.
The Provinces Paragoana and Bariquicemeto.
Northward from the City, the Promontory St. Roman, in the Province of Paragoana, runs into the Sea, opposite to the Islands Aruba and Quuracao.
The Countrey Paragoana is low and full of Venison; out of the middle of it rises a high Mountain, the Inhabitants whereof are very hospitable and courteous.
The Lyons that breed in this Countrey run away from Men; but on the contrary, the Tygers are exceeding cruel.