The Countrey is every where overgrown with Brambles and Bushes, in which breed Tygers and very poysonous Serpents. There are likewise abundance of Stags, Bucks, Hares, and Coneys, besides other strange Beasts.
The Netherlanders beaten out of their Salt-Trade here by the Spaniards.
Till Anno 1605. the Netherlanders came hither unmolested for Salt, when eight Spanish Gallions falling unawares upon them, strangely misus’d their Seamen; but afterwards the United Netherlands having made an Agreement with Spain for a certain time, renew’d their Trade to Araya, till the King of Spain, having for the better security of the Place, built the Fort St. Jago, which Commanded the great Salt-pan, forbad the Netherlanders from lading any more Salt; who thereupon Storm’d the Fort, though to their cost, for several of them were kill’d, and the rest return’d home empty.
Sect. V.
Of the Islands of Southern America.
The chiefest islands of note in the Southern part of America, that is to say, those that lie remote from the Continent in Mare del Zur, are Los Ladrones, and the Islands Fernandinas; for the rest being, as we may call them, Mediterranean Islands, fall naturally under the Description of the Continent.
The Isles Los Ladrones.
1. Los Ladrones, in English, The Islands of Thieves, lie as it were in the mid-way betwixt the Main Land of America and the Philippine Islands, but some hundreds of Leagues distant from either, in the fourth Degree of Northern Latitude; so nam’d by Ferdinand Magellan, from the pilfering disposition he observ’d in the Natives, when he Sail’d that way for the Moluccæ Islands. They were a nimble and active sort of People, yet light-finger’d, tall of stature, and going for the most part naked, excellent Swimmers and Divers, and have not much more to be said in their commendation.
The Isles Fernandinæ.
2. The Fernandinæ are onely two Islands of no great bigness, lying over against the Coast of Chile, in the three and thirtieth Degree of Southern Latitude, and about a hundred Leagues, or three hundred English Miles from the Continent, yet well stor’d with some lesser sorts of Cattel, as Goats, &c. good plenty likewise of Venison in the Woods, and Fish upon the Coasts; for which reason, though lying at some distance, yet are they not a little frequented by the Spaniards of Peru, who find many good Harbors and Roads for Shipping belonging to, and about these Islands.
