This river has good fish in it. Many tigers are also found in the neighbourhood. This river is only four miles distant from the Machkockios.
When we had approached within one mile of the Machkasis the inhabitants came forth to meet us, and received us very well, and soon began talking Spanish with us; whereat we were astonished, and asked them whose subjects they were and who was their lord; they answered our commander and us, that they were the subjects of a Spanish nobleman, whose name was Peter Asuelles.[242]
[242] Pero Anzures de Campo Redondo, one of the officers of Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru, who was sent to conquer the territory of the Chunchos, east of the river Arumaya, and between the Beni and the Guapay.
Upon entering their village we found their children, and some of the men and women, swarming with very little vermin, like our fleas. These little vermin, if they lay hold of the toes, or any other part of the body, gnaw and enter always more and more deeply into the flesh, and at length become worms, such as are found in our filberts. If it be taken in time the mischief may be prevented, but if overlooked too long, it eats the whole toes away. I could write very much about it.[243]
[243] This is the nigua, in Guaraní, called pique in Brazil, where it is very plentiful, and chiefly attacks the negroes. In tropical Africa it is vulgarly known as the “Jigger”.
From our often-mentioned town of Noster Signora Desumsion to this village of the Machkasis the distance by land is three hundred and seventy-two miles.[244]
[244] The city of Asuncion del Paraguai is in lat. 25° 17′ S., and the salt lakes of the Jaurú in lat. 16°. The distance by land between them is about 700 English miles.
Now, when we had stayed twenty days in this place of the Machkasis, we received a letter from a city called Lieme[245] in Peru, from H. I. M. Supreme Stadthalter there named Presende or Licentiat de Cascha,[246] who had caused Consaillo Pisere[247] to be beheaded, besides other noblemen whom he caused to be beheaded along with him, or to be sent to the galleys, because the said Consaillo Pisere would not be obedient to him the Licentiate de Cascha, but was rebellious along with the country against H. I. Majesty.
[245] Lima.
[246] El Presidente Licenciado La Gasca.