Strange Corps.
Nigno not making here any stay, return’d a second time to Curiana, where he spent twenty days in pleasant Pastimes, being Lodg’d in a Noble-mans House, at whose Door was fix’d a Cannibals Head, as a Trophy of his Victory. He saw there also the dead Bodies of divers eminent Persons set drying at a Fire, so hardned to be set amongst their Idols.
Nigno put in Prison.
Cruel dealings in Curiana.
At length Nigno set Sail homewards, and carried with him an invaluable Treasure in Pearls to Spain: but by the way fell out with his Sea-men, because he kept most of the Purchase to himself, and would not give them their shares, nay more than that, kept back the fifth part from the King; whereupon being complain’d of by Ferdinando de Vega, Governor of Gallicia, he was put in Prison, and at last sent to the Court, where the Pearls were declared free Prize, because Nigno had barter’d for them at Curiana, contrary to the Kings Orders, not to touch at any Coast, within fifty Leagues of what Columbus had discover’d. But since he had no way regarded those Commands to preserve that Pearl-Trade, King Ferdinand sent Governors to Curiana, who in his Name should look after, and employ Men for the catching the Pearl-Oysters. These, accompanied with a considerable number of Soldiers, besides six Monks, forc’d the Inhabitants to furnish them with abundance of Pearl: which oppression grew to such a heighth, that one Morning a great Party of them conspiring together, fell suddenly upon them, most of them being massacred: after they had a while insultingly triumphed over the dead Bodies, and finish’d, as they thought, their good work (feasting on their Flesh at a joyful Banquet) those few that escap’d Sail’d to the Island Dominic, the Governor of which Didacus Columbus, Son to the famous Christopher, being incens’d, immediately sent Captain Ocampo with three hundred Men to Curiana; where in his first fury, without distinction of Sex or Age, he slew all he met with. But because they themselves could not follow the rich Oyster-catching, he spar’d some for that purpose, whom he commanded to build twenty five little Houses, or Hovels, on the Shore, which he call’d New Toledo. After this they went on afresh in their Pearl-fishing.
Sect. V.
The Voyage of Vincent Agnes Pinzon.
The first of December, Anno 1499. Vincent Pinzon set Sail with four Vessels out of the Haven Palos: he had been Commander of a Ship under Columbus in his first Expedition, by which means he got great experience in Navigation. When he came a little beyond the Hesperides, he was surpris’d by a great Storm, which in three days drove him before a plain Coast; where Landing, he found nothing but the Footsteps of Men; and in the night he saw great Fires, such as are generally made in Camps; about day-break twenty Spaniards march’d thither, whom thirty two Men, arm’d with Bowes and Arrows, made ready to encounter; but as they approached, the Spaniards proffer’d them Peace, but they refused all Composition; yet having faced one another a while, they retreated without fighting.
Pinzon’s strange Fight.
A remarkable Beast.