WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 231 



661. The volcano of Zacatecoluca is very tall ; it has two points or 

 peaks, and is well known by navigators on the Pacific, for from 

 far out at sea its two peaks look like a cavalry saddle. It neither 

 erupts nor seems active ; in fact it is all well covered with forests 

 containing many valuable aromatic trees, cedars, ebony, guaiacum, 

 and others highly prized, as well as many wild animals — tigers, lions, 

 ounces, many species of monkeys, squirrels, huge royal eagles which 

 are dark gray and crested and are also to be found on most of the 

 mountain ranges and volcanoes of that country. At its northern foot 

 it has five hot springs with famous baths; there is abundance of 

 sulfur and alum. 



662. The district of this city along the Pacific coast contains ex- 

 tensive meadowlands and plains with much pasturage, everywhere 

 dotted with indigo laboratories, farms, and cattle and mule ranches, 

 down to the Rio de Lempa, which separates the territory of this city 

 of San Salvador from that of the city of San Miguel, although all 

 of it falls within the district of the Alcalde Mayor. Deer abound and 

 most of them have excellent bezoar stones in their stomachs, thanks 

 to medicinal plants of great virtues, among which is the contrahierba, 

 a root growing underground like galangal roots. There is much fruit : 

 wild grapes, some small and black, like Rota grapes, and others very 

 large and red, like the vineyard grapes known as jar-bursters ; there 

 are other sorts also. They raise excellent melons, particularly for 

 Lent ; quinces, pomegranates, limes, sweet and sour oranges, and 

 other delicious native fruits. 



Chapter XVI 



Continuing the Description of the Diocese of Guatemala, and of 

 the City of San Miguel and the Town of Chuluteca. 



663. The Rio de Lempa, which flows into the Pacific, separates 

 the territory of the city of San Salvador, i6 leagues away, from 

 that of the city of San Miguel, which is 14 leagues from the river. 

 At the halfway point of 7 leagues is the Indian village of Ereguaiquin, 

 with a few Spanish residents running indigo laboratories ; Franciscan 

 friars oversee religious instruction in this village. Seven leagues 

 farther is the city of San Miguel, 30 leagues distant from San 

 Salvador and over 70 from Guatemala. It contains within its district 

 more than 80 Indian villages, though most of them are small, and 

 many indigo laboratories and cattle ranches. The city will have a 

 little over 100 Spanish residents, though most of them usually live 

 on their farms and ranches or at their laboratories, and only 40 or 



