But at last, after all these Services, Cortez disagreeing with the Vice-Roy Don Antonio Mendoza, being about that time sent over, went male-contented into Spain.
Sect. XI.
Diego Gottierez his Expedition.
Gottierez contests with Contreras.
Anno 1540. Gottierez being chosen Governor of New Carthage, weigh’d Anchor Is forsaken of all. from Cadiz, and sailing to Nombre de Dios, upon his Landing clash’d with Great Tempest. Roderick Contreras, in whose Place he was sent to succeed. Two Years he spent Village Francisco. without effecting any thing; but at last coming to Agreement with Contreras, Strange manner of eating. he took the Governorship upon him, having first forewarn’d him not to depend Unsatisfied Covetousness of Gottierez. too much upon his Authority; for the Countrey being full of Woods and Mountains, might hide many of his Enemies: But he not regarding the Advice, went a Journey from New Granada, and having march’d fifty Leagues Easterly, he cross’d into the River Suere, with sixty Spaniards, and was presented by the Princes of the Countrey with as much Gold as amounted to seven thousand Duckets. Here he spent some Weeks, effecting little; but now all things growing scarce, though he was very earnest with the Natives for Provisions, yet he could get little; which kind of Life the Soldiers disliking, and growing weary of, went away in the Night to Nicaragua. Gottierez thus left alone, got into a Boat, with intent to follow them; and being just put off from the Shore, was met by Captain Barjanto, who brought new Forces and fresh Provisions with him: This wrought upon him to stay there. Not long after Alphonso de Pisa went with twenty seven Men from Nombre de Dios to the same River Suere; but it being then very rough at the Entrance, he was necessitated to pass on to a small uninhabited Isle, where whilst he lay at an Anchor, the Weather began to grow worse and worse; the Gusts of Wind, mix’d with Showres of Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, seem’d to threaten a general Destruction; for in the Ship two Spaniards and one Moor were kill’d by the Lightning: In seventy two Days, the Sun did not shine four Hours: At last weighing Anchor, he sail’d over to the Main Land, where he saw nothing but vast Mountains and Wildernesses. Here for a time they liv’d upon Cockles found on the Shore, and wild Fruits in the Woods: At length coming to Gottierez, he sent him with his People in five Boats to fetch new Forces from Nombre de Dios. In his way thither he saw a House built of Canes, cover’d with Palm-leaves, forty five Paces long, and built after an Oval fashion: Round about it stood several lesser Hovels, all which making up a Village, the Spaniards nam’d Francisco, because they came thither on St. Francis Day. About half way they met with the Lords of Suere and Chiuppa, going to attend Gottierez, to whom being admitted, and sitting with him at Table, he gave them, as a Dainty, rosted Chickens and fresh Pork; but they gave it to their Servants, not delighting in the taste of such Victuals. Gottierez, by means of an Interpreter, told them concerning the Christian Religion, at which they bow’d their Heads, without making any Answer: But how little mind they had to embrace it, quickly appear’d; for not long after, they set their Villages on fire, and all the Provisions which they could not carry with them, they spoil’d, and so retiring, hid themselves upon inaccessible Mountains. Another Incentive leading them to this Fight, was, because the Governor Camachiren, and his Deputy (notwithstanding he had given Gottierez as much Gold, when he came first into the Countrey, as amounted to seven thousand Duckets, as we mention’d before) yet was put in Prison by his Order, contrary to all Promises: Nay, Gottierez threatned to burn him not regarding, that he had besides receiv’d of him several Pieces of Gold, resembling all manner of Beasts, as Tygers, and others; and also Fishes and Fowls curiously wrought, which were valu’d at two Tun of Gold; yet this Present seemed too little for him, whereupon bringing the Prisoner to a Chest, he swore that he would rost him by degrees, if in four days time he did not furnish him with four times as much more Gold as that Chest would hold: Whereupon Chamachiren’s Servants went away to get the requir’d Gold; but he, through carelesness of the Watch, made his escape in the Night, so that Gottierez lost his Booty. But the other Prisoners, though threatned to be torn asunder with Dogs, remain’d firm, disowning that they had any Gold; and among the rest, one speaking boldly to the Spanish Officer said, That he stood amaz’d at his treacherous dealings, why did he keep him Chain’d against Law and Promise, and often threaten’d him with death, but yet would not kill him, for he, said he, had rather choose to die, than live so miserable a life.
Gottierez’s Conscience troubling him, he would willingly have releas’d the Indian, and the rather, because he promis’d to procure a great ransome of Gold; but the inferior Commanders would not consent to it. After this they march’d six days through great Wildernesses, and over high Mountains, finding no Footsteps of any People. Lastly, They came down a very dangerous and steep Mountain, where had not the Shrubs and jutting Stones serv’d them to hold by, they had all broken their Necks.
Dangerous Mountains.
Strange Huts.
Fifteen Leagues, the hanging of this Mountain spread it self along a sweet River, on whose opposite Shore stood strange Huts full of dead Tygers, Deers Heads, and Legs; here they staid two days to rest themselves, where the Trees Mamei and the Cazabi Plants yielded them good Food.
Valiant fight.
Travelling forward, Gottierez ask’d an Indian which was the nearest way to a Village, but he pretending not to know any near hand, had his Head immediately cut off. In like manner, and for the same reason the Indian Prince should also have been Executed, had not Gottierez given order to the contrary; seeing his resolution, that with no less Patience than undaunted Courage, stretch’d forth his Neck to the Executioners. Mean while, their Provisions decreasing, they suffer’d extreme hunger; insomuch, that some fainted quite away. The Souldiers also rebelling against Gottierez for Food, he commanded them to kill their Dogs, and stamp the Barks of Trees; two days they travelled much discontented in this manner, and at last came to the entrance of a Wood, where they espy’d an Indian standing behind a Tree, which on a sudden ran away with incredible swiftness: early the next morning, above four thousand Indians came Marching against the faint Spaniards, making a terrible noise with Horns and Drums; they were all except their Princes Painted black and red; some wore Plumes of Feathers on their Heads, and Collars of the same about their Necks; the fight began very fiercely, by casting abundance of Stones, and shooting of Arrows, wherein, though Gottierez was at first Wounded, yet after half an hour the Assailants fled, but recruited with fresh Forces renew’d the fight, breaking into their Ranks, and making so great slaughter amongst them with Woodden Swords, and Palm-Tree Clubs, knocking down, and dealing such deadly Wounds, that of the Spaniards, three onely escap’d, saving themselves by flight, who two hours after, much amaz’d and terrify’d, came to their reserve, consisting onely of twenty four Men, which Alphonso de Risa Commanded; the insulting Enemy at their Heels, waving over their Heads the Swords, Shields, and Cross-Bows which they had gotten from the slain Spaniards; and some withal crying in the Spanish Tongue, Come Christians, come, and take Gold. But de Risa, for all their pride, set them going with some Volleys of Shot; after this, escaping innumerable other dangers, he came to Nombre de Dios, without having effected any thing of Note.