A.D. 



1572. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



S. John 

 Ullua. 



A relation of the commodities of Nova Hispania, 

 and the maners of the inhabitants, written by- 

 Henry Hawks merchant, which lived five yeeres 

 in the sayd countrey, and drew the same at the 

 request of M. Richard Hakluyt Esquire of 

 Eiton in the county of Hereford, 1572. 



Aint John de Ullua is an Island not high 

 above the water, where as now the 

 Spanyards upon M. John Hawkins being 

 there, are in making a strong fort. In 

 this place all the ships that come out 

 of Spaine with goods for these parts, 

 do unlade : for they have none other 



port so good as this is. The comming into this place 

 hath three chanels, and the best of all is the Norther- 

 most, which goeth by the maine land : and on every 

 side of the chanels there are many small rocks as big 

 as a small barrell : they wil make men stand in doubt 

 of them, but there is no feare of them. There is 

 another Island there by, called The Island of sacrifices, 

 whereas the Spanyards did in times past unlade their 



Spirits. goods : and for that, they say, there are upon it spirits 

 or devils, it is not frequented as it hath bene. In these 

 places the North wind hath so great dominion, that often- 

 times it destroyeth many ships and barks. This place 

 is given to great sicknesse. These Islands stand in 18 

 degrees and a halfe, and about the same is great plenty 

 of fish. 



Five leagues from S. John de Ullua is a faire river; 

 it lieth Northwest from the port, and goeth to a little 



Vera Cruz, towne of the Spanyards called Vera Cruz, and with small 

 vessels or barks, which they call frigats, they cary all 

 their merchandize which commeth out of Spaine, to the 

 said towne : and in like maner bring all the gold, silver, 

 cochinilla, hides, and all other things that the shippes 

 cary into Spaine unto them. And the goods being in 



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