A.D. 



1540. 



Tzvo tables 

 painted by the 

 Indians, one 

 of beasts 

 another of 

 birdes and 

 fishes. 



An old prophe- 

 cie that those 

 parts should be 

 subdued by 

 Christians. 

 They worship 

 the zcater. 



Seven cities 

 farre from 

 Granada. 



Tucano. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



bee taken with them. Which they did: for they brought 

 mee certaiiie mantles and some Turqueses. I advised 

 them to come downe from their holdes, and to returne 

 with their wives and children to their houses, and to 

 become Christians, and that they would acknowledge the 

 Emperours majestie for their King and lorde. And even 

 to this present they keepe in those strong holdes their 

 women and children, and all the goods which they have. 

 I commaunded them that they should paint mee out a 

 cloth of all the beastes which they knowe in their countrey : 

 And such badde painters as they are, foorthwith they 

 painted mee two clothes, one of their beastes, another 

 of their birdes and fishes. They say that they will bring 

 their children, that our religious men may instruct them, 

 and that they desire to knowe our lawe : And they assure 

 us, that above fiftie yeeres past it was prophecied among 

 them, that a certaine people like us should come, and 

 from that part that wee came from, and that they should 

 subdue all that countrey. 



That which these Indians worship as farre as hitherto 

 wee can learne, is the water : for they say it causeth 

 their corne to growe, and maintaineth their life ; and that 

 they know none other reason, but that their ancesters 

 did so. I have sought by all meanes possible to learne 

 of the inhabitants of these townes, whether they have any 

 knowledge of other people, countreys and cities : And 

 they tell mee of seven cities which are farre distant from 

 this place, which are like unto these, though they have 

 not houses like unto these, but they are of earth, and 

 small : and that among them much cotton is gathered. 

 The chiefe of these townes whereof they have knowledge, 

 they say is called Tucano : and they gave mee no perfect 

 knowledge of the rest. And I thinke they doe not tell 

 me the trueth, imagining that of necessitie I must speedily 

 depart from them, and returne home. But herein they 

 shall soone finde themselves deceived. I sent Don Pedro 

 de Tovar with his companie of footemen and with certaine 

 other horsemen to see this towne : And I would not 



160 



