Strange passages on Tabasco.
This River, flowing out of the Province Tabasco, was call’d Grisalva: upon whose Banks stood above six thousand Americans; and in the Water appear’d a hundred Boats with Armed Men, which Row’d aboard the Spanish Ships. The Interpreters of Cuba, whose Language agrees for the most part with the Tabascers, prevail’d so much, that the King himself came to the chief Commander Grisalva, and bartering with him, gave him as much Gold as his Iron Helmet, Breastplate, and other Armor weighed.
Sacrifice Island.
Soon after they Landed on the Island of Sacrifice, so call’d from the horrid Sacrifices which the Inhabitants made daily.
Exceeding horrible Sacrifices.
Amongst other strange Images, there flood a great Lyon of Marble, seeming almost decollated with a great gash; into which Wound they pour’d humane Blood warm, which was receiv’d into a Stone Trough set for that purpose underneath; then the Figure of a Man Carv’d in Alabaster, bowing forward, as if looking into the Trough upon the Blood. Those which were sacrificed were Prisoners taken on the neighboring Coasts, whom bringing before their Idols, they ripping open make no farther inspection, but onely to whip out the Heart; with which having smear’d the Lips of their Idols, they throw it into the Fire: the Heads and Corps they let lie unburi’d; whose fleshy parts, especially their Cheeks, they feast upon.
Maiden-Island.
The next Island is inhabited by Women; to which Annually their Neighbors go, pretending merry kindness, but upon amorous inclinations: and Plough and Till their Ground, and Weed their Gardens.
Pontenchianum a City.
The chief City of Tabasco is Pontenchianum, and contains above fifteen hundred Houses, all built of Stone hardned with baking after their manner; which in some Places, besides their Turrets and Temples, yield a pleasant Prospect at a great distance. Fourteen eminent Towns more did the Spaniards also see in Tabasco.