A.D. 



1572. 



The more 

 Northzvard, 

 the richer 

 silver mines. 



Painting 

 earth. 



Golde 



[III. 464.] 



Mesquiquez. 



Seven cities by 

 witchcraft not 

 found of the 

 seekers. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



streight : which as yet was never fully found. They 

 say, that streight lieth not farre from the maine land 

 of China, which the Spanyards account to be marvellous 

 rich. 



Toward the North from Mexico there are great store 

 of silver mines. There is greater quantitie of silver 

 found in these mines toward the North, then there is 

 any other parts : and as the most men of experience 

 sayde alwayes, they finde the richer mines the more 

 Northerly, These mines are commonly upon great hilles 

 and stony ground, marvellous hard to be laboured and 

 wrought. 



Out of some of the mines the Indians finde a certeine 

 kinde of earth of divers colours, wherewith they paint 

 themselves in times of their dances, and other pastimes 

 which they use. 



In this countrey of Nova Hispania there are also 

 mines of golde, although the golde be commonly found 

 in rivers, or very neere unto rivers. And nowe in these 

 dayes there is not so much golde found as there hath 

 bene heretofore. 



There are many great rivers, and great store of fish 

 in them, not like unto our kindes of fish. And there 

 are marvellous great woods, and as faire trees as may 

 be scene, of divers sorts, and especially firre trees, that 

 may mast any shippe that goeth upon the sea, okes and 

 pineapples, and another tree which they call Mesquiquez: 

 it beareth a fruit like unto a peascod, marvellous sweet, 

 which the wilde people gather, and keepe it all the yere, 

 and eat it in stead of bread. 



The Spanyards have notice of seven cities which old 

 men of the Indians shew them should lie towards the 

 Northwest from Mexico. They have used and use 

 dayly much diligence in seeking of them, but they cannot 

 find any one of them. They say that the witchcraft of 

 the Indians is such, that when they come by these townes 

 they cast a mist upon them, so that they cannot see 

 them. 



382 



