FRIAR MARCO DE NICA a.d. 



1539- 

 taine Indians of another island greater then this came A greathkndy 

 to visit me, which island is farther off, of whom I was ^.^f ^o- ^^f^ 

 informed that there were 30. other smal islands, which seeme'tobe the 

 were inhabited, but had smal store of victuals, saving 2. new islands of 

 which have Maiz or corne of the countrey. These In- California 

 dians had about their necks many great shels which were ^'^chinpearks. 

 mother of Pearle. I shewed them pearles which I carryed 

 with me for a shew, and they told me that there were in 

 the Islands great store of them, and those very great : 

 howbeit I saw none of them. I followed my voyage 

 through a desert of 4. dayes journey, having in my com- 

 pany both the Indians of the islands, & those of the 

 mountaines which I had passed, and at the end of this 

 desert I found other Indians which marvelled to see me, 

 because they had no knowledge of any Christians, having 

 no traffike nor conversation with those Indians which I 

 had passed, in regard of the great desert which was A desert foure 

 between them. These Indians interteined me exceeding ^^^^J^^'^^y- 

 courteously, & gave me great store of victuals, & sought 

 to touch my garments, and called me Hayota, which in 

 their language signifieth A man come from heaven. 

 These Indians I advertised by my interpreter, according to 

 my instructions, in the knowledge of our Lord God in 

 heaven, & of the Emperor. In these countries & in all 

 places els by all wayes and meanes possible, I sought in- [HI. 367.] 

 formation where any Countreys were of more Cities and 

 people of civilitie and understanding, then those which I 

 had found : and I could heare no newes of any such : 

 howbeit they tolde mee, that foure or five dayes journey 

 within the Countrey, at the foote of the mountaines, there 

 is a large and mightie plaine, wherein they tolde mee, ^^^'^^ ^^^ ^^^ 

 that there were many great Townes, and people clad in p^ ^^ ^ 

 Cotton : and when I shewed them certaine Metals which I 

 carryed with mee, to learne what riche Metals were in 

 the Lande, they tooke the minerall of Golde and tolde 

 mee, that thereof were vesselles among the people of 

 that plaine, and that they carryed certaine round greene 

 stones hanging at their nostrilles, and at their eares, 



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