Eastward up into the Countrey lies the great Province Tucuman, inhabited by three sorts of People, viz. Juries, Diagnitas, and Tucumans, from whom the Countrey receives its Denomination, and juts Northward against the Chicas, belonging to the rich Plate-Countrey Potosi, Eastward towards the Province La Plata, and Westward towards the South Sea.
The Ground about the City St. Jago del Estero, formerly call’d Vares, being the Bishop’s See, and Residence of the Governors, is brackish and sandy. The Citizens are most of them Weavers; the Natives go Cloth’d, and are of an affable Temper and Disposition.
The River Estera yearly overflows the Countrey, which being dung’d with Mud, produces abundance of Maiz, Barley, Wheat, and all manner of Fruits.
The Stream Salado runs the same Course as the Estera, from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey, but hath brackish Water, and abundance of Fish. Between both these Rivers the Inhabitants get plenty of Honey, Wax, Cotton, and Cochenile. Cattel also increases in abundance, as likewise Deer, and other Venison; and for Fowl, Partridges, Pigeons, and the like; but the Tygers and Lyons do much mischief to the Inhabitants. Their chief Commodities for Trade and Merchandise are Cloth, Cotton and Salt.
Garcias Mendoza built the Towns Neuva Londres in the Province Calchaqui, and Gorduba in the Territory of the Juries, but they were both of them soon deserted.
Behind Peru and La Plata the Plains Omaguaza extend themselves along the Rivers Paraguay and Bermeio, under a temperate Climate, where the Inhabitants go Clothed, and keep abundance of Cattel.
Productions of the Countrey, and Nature of the People.
In most places hereabouts breed wonderful large Baboons, with long Tails and Beards; which being wounded, pull the Arrows out of the Wound, and throw back the same with a grim Countenance at those that shoot them.
The Serpents are likewise so big here, that they swallow whole Deer.
The Rivers breed horrid Crocodiles, and the Woods, Lyons and Tygers.