WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 205 



and settlements of Christian Indians, allotted to the residents of the 

 city. It is abundantly supplied with cheap and delicious foodstuffs; 

 they harvest abundance of wheat, corn, large beans, the whole year 

 through, as in other parts of the Indies, chickpeas, kidney beans, and 

 other cereals, and all sorts of fruit, both Spanish and native. 



576. This diocese is over 70 leagues long from E. to W., and over 

 60 across from N. to S. It lies between the Diocese of Oaxaca to 

 its WNW. and that of Guatemala on its ESE. ; in its district are 

 many provinces, the great majority with a hot climate. The chief 

 provinces are four in number : the Province of the Chapanecas, from 

 which the city and Diocese take their name ; the Province of the 

 Zoques ; that of the Zendales ; and that of the Quelenes ; and although 

 in each village and province there is a native mother tongue, these 

 four are the most general and widespread, and still more the Mexican, 

 which was introduced for administrative purposes, the Mexican 

 kings having issued orders that their language should be used in all 

 the provinces and tribes which they subdued and brought into their 

 empire, and so it is spoken as a lingua franca in the whole country. 



577. In the district of this Diocese they have large ranches of 

 cattle, sheep, swine, mules, and the best horses in all New Spain ; 

 they can compete with those of Cordova, and some assert that they 

 surpass them. They gather quantities of fine cultivated cochineal, 

 and wild from the mountains ; wax and honey in abundance, cacao, 

 annatto, excellent fragrant pepper which comes from trees ; fine coyol 

 and a berry from which they make quantities of rosaries which are 

 an article of commerce ; and cotton, which the Indians weave into 

 quantities of native cloth, used for cloaks, guaypiles, and other sorts 

 of clothing; these are exported by merchants and traders to Guate- 

 mala and its territory and other regions. 



Chapter II 



Continuing the Description of the Diocese of Chiapas and Its 

 Provinces. 



578. The Province of Chiapas contains over 25 villages. The 

 leading one is the capital, Chiapa de Los Indios, from which the 

 whole Diocese takes its name ; it is one of the largest and finest 

 Indian towns, not only in New Spain but in all the Indies ; it contains 

 over 10,000 Indian residents, all well disciplined and intelligent. 

 They are very skillful and ingenious, and quickly learn any trade 

 that requires artistry ; they are very gentlemanly, courteous, and well 

 brought up, and the great majority are excellent horsemen and so 



