A.D. 

 1558. 



Mexico 

 conquered 

 Anno 1 519. 

 and 1 520. 



Cochtnilla is 

 not a worme 

 nor a Jiie, but 

 a berry. 



Indico. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



dwelling and alive in Mexico, many ancient men that 

 were of the conquerours at the first conquest with 

 Hernando Cortes: for then it was about 36. yeeres 

 agoe, that the said Countrey was conquered. 



About Mexico there are divers Mines of silver, and 

 also in other places there about, but the principall 

 Mines that are in all New Spaine are in Sacatecas, 80. 

 leagues from Mexico, and the Mines of S. Martin, thirtie 

 leagues, both to the Northwestward of Mexico, where 

 is great store of gold and silver. Also there is a place 

 called the Misteca, fiftie leagues to the Northwest, which 

 doth yeeld great store of very good silke, and Cochinilla. 

 Wine and oyle there is none growing in the Countrey, 

 but what commeth out of Spaine. Also there are many 

 goodly fruits in that Countrey, whereof we have none 

 such, as Plantanos, Guyaves, Sapotes, Tunas, and in the 

 wildernes great store of blacke cheries, and other whol- 

 some fruites. The Cochinilla is not a worme, or a flye, 

 as some say it is, but a berrie that groweth upon certaine 

 bushes in the wilde fielde, which is gathered in time of 

 the yeere, when it is ripe. Also the Indico that doeth 

 come from thence to die blew, is a certaine hearbe that 

 groweth in the wilde fieldes, and is gathered at one time 

 of the yeere, and burnt, and of the ashes thereof, with 

 other confections put thereunto, the saide Indico is made. 

 Balme, Salsa perilla, Cana fistula, suger, oxe hides, and 

 many other good and serviceable things the Countrey 

 doeth yeeld, which are yeerely brought into Spaine, and 

 there solde and distributed to many nations. 



Robert Tomson. 



358 



