FRIAR MARCO DE NICA a.d. 



1539- 

 sayde Stephan departed from mee on Passion-sunday 

 after dinner : and within foure dayes after the messen- 

 gers of Stephan returned unto me with a great Crosse 

 as high as a man, and they brought me word from 

 Stephan, that I should foorthwith come away after him, 

 for hee had found people which gave him information 

 of a very mighty Province, and that he had certaine 

 Indians in his company, which had bene in the sayd 

 Province, and that he had sent me one of the said 

 Indians. This Indian told me, that it was thirtie dayes ^^"^ ^^^^P^ 

 journey from the Towne where Stephan was, unto the ^^ ^joaare 

 first Citie of the sayde Province, which is called Cevola. journey. 

 Hee affirmed also that there are seven great Cities in this 

 Province, all under one Lord, the houses whereof are 

 made of Lyme and Stone, and are very great, and the 

 least of them with one lofte above head, and some of two 

 and of three loftes, and the house of the Lorde of the 

 Province of foure, and that all of them joyne one unto 

 the other in good order, and that in the gates of the 

 principall houses there are many Turques-stones cun- 

 ningly wrought, whereof hee sayth they have there great 

 plentie : also that the people of this Citie goe very well 

 apparelled : and that beyond this there are other Pro- 

 vinces, all which (hee sayth) are much greater then these 

 seven cities. I gave credite to his speach, because I found 

 him to bee a man of good understanding : but I deferred 

 my departure to follow Stephan Dorantes, both because I 

 thought hee would stay for mee, and also to attend the 

 returne of my messengers which I had sent unto the Sea, 

 who returned unto me upon Easter day, bringing with 

 them certaine inhabitants of the Sea-coast, and of two of 

 the Islands. Of whom I understoode, that the Islandes 

 above mentioned were scarce of victuals, as I had learned 

 before, and that they are inhabited by people, which weare Great pearks 

 shelles of Pearles upon their foreheads, and they say that ^^d much gold 

 they have great Pearles, and much Golde. They in- ^^^^^J-^^" °f 

 formed mee of foure and thirtie Islandes, lying one neere .r^^hkhll-e'xA. 

 unto another : they say that the people on the Sea-coast in number. 

 IX 129 I 



