Alvares Cabeca not long after following Mendoza’s footsteps, discover’d and peopled the Province Rio de la Plata. The Mouth of the River La Plata Laurence Bikker describes thus:
Laurence Bikker’s Description of Rio de la Plata.
“Beyond the Cape Santa Maria (saith he) lies the flat Island Castilhos, having scarce a Tree upon it; but on the North side a Rock, not unlike a decay’d Castle; to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs; directly before the Mouth lies the stonie Island De Lobos, on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves; towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River, known by the breaking of the Water upon the same.”
The Promontory Maria is low and barren, but within the same the Land rises high before the Isles Flores and Maldonado, which last hath a good sandy Shore, Harbor, and fresh Water between the Rocks; but Flores rising with two Hills, produces nothing but Brambles.
The Stream Solis also discharges its Waters in La Plata, near the Place where the Mountain Seredo lies.
The left Shore of La Plata begins at the Promontory Antonio, and is cut through by the Rivers Ortis and Los Sanctos, where the Town Buenos Ayres is built on a smooth Shore.
Martin del Barco’s Description of the same.
Martin del Barco proceeding in the Description of La Plata, saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same. The Isles in the River are as followeth: those that bear the Name of St. Gabriel are five in number; Garcia Isle is full of Trees, and for its fertility was peopled by Peter de Mendoza, and afterwards by Juan Ortiz Carate: But less fruitful are the Isles De Lazaro, where the River Vrayg unites with La Plata, being before fill’d with the Waters of Salvador, which receives the black Stream Negro, which gliding slowly from Morasses, is very full of Fish. Moreover, La Plata hath eleven Arms, each very deep and full of Isles, inhabited by the Guaranins.
About a hundred Leagues farther the Cherandies have setled themselves on pleasant Isles, lying not far from the City St. Fe, built on the Point which makes the River Bermeio, where it falls into La Plata.
Farther up lies the Province Ana, partly well inhabited for its fertility, and partly overflow’d.