FRIAR MARCO DE NICA ad. 



1539- 

 and assured me that the land which I sought for, was 



the greatest and best countrey in all those partes. The 

 sayd messengers told mee particularly without fayling 

 in any one poynt, all that which the first messenger 

 had tolde mee, and much more, and gave mee more 

 plaine information thereof So I travelled that day 

 being Easter tuesday, and two dayes more, the very 

 same way that Stephan had gone : at the end of which 

 3 dayes they tolde mee, that from that place a man 

 might travell in thirtie dayes to the citie of Cevola, 

 which is the first of the seven. Neither did one onely 

 tell me thus much, but very many ; who tolde me very 

 particularly of the greatnesse of the houses, and of the 

 fashion of them, as the first messengers had informed 

 me. Also they told me, that besides these seven Cities, 

 there are 3. other kingdomes which are called Marata, 

 Acus, and Totonteac. I enquired of them wherefore 

 they travelled so farre from their houses .? They said 

 that they went for Turqueses, and Hides of kine, and 

 other things ; and that of all these there was great 

 abundance in this Countrey. Likewise I enquired how, 

 and by what meanes they obteined these things ? They 

 tolde me, by their service, and by the sweat of their 

 browes, and that they went unto the first citie of the 

 Province which is called Cevola, and that they served 

 them in tilling their ground, and in other businesses, and 

 that they give them Hydes of oxen, which they have in 

 those places, and turqueses for their service, and that the 

 people of this city weare very fine and excellent turqueses 

 hanging at their eares and at their nostrils. They say also, 

 that of these turqueses they make fine workes upon the 

 principall gates of the houses of this citie. They tolde 

 mee, that the apparell which the inhabitants of Cevola 

 weare, is a gowne of cotten downe to the foote, with a 

 button at the necke, and a long string hanging downe 

 at the same, and that the sleeves of these gownes are 

 as broad beneath as above. They say, they gyrd them- 

 selves with gyrdles of turqueses, and that over these 



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