WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 375 



coming from the Spanish Main, and they take on [here] some 

 suppHes of poultry, bread, fruit, etc. It has in its district many 

 other villages, like Picoasa and Jipijapa, where they raise much 

 henequen and make quantities of cordage for the ships on that sea, 

 Charapoto, and many other villages. The Corregidor of Guayaquil 

 appoints a representative for the government of this city. Along 

 its coast there are many pearl beds, [very fine], though they get 

 [and take out] very few, for lack of labor and because the sea is 

 icy cold there, even though it is on the Line. It has connected with 

 it the Provinces of Las Barbacoas and Las Esmeraldas, of heathen 

 Indians, [very] rich, mountainous, and heavily wooded. Next them 

 comes the Province of Los Mulatos, heathen descendants of a ship- 

 load of Negroes wrecked at that point, and the origin of this tribe. 

 They are good-looking and all wear gold nose plugs in their nostrils, 

 gold plaques on their breasts, and gold ear hoops ; I myself saw them 

 with them ; and as for emeralds, it is certain that there are very 

 rich mines of them in this province, and that they are [much] finer 

 than those from Muzo, These provinces are not pacified because 

 those who could do it, would not risk their wealth in the effort, and 

 poor men who want to do it, are unable to. The Circuit Court of 

 Quito should be advised to have them pacified by offering honors 

 and rewards to whoever should do it ; this subvention would be a very 

 important matter. [This is what may be briefly stated about this 

 Puerto Vie jo district, set down very accurately.] 



1122. At Punta de Santa Elena in this district, there is a flowing 

 well of pitch, which might very well be of much importance. In this 

 region [there is a tradition that] giants used to inhabit [this country], 

 of huge stature; by just judgments of God they were exterminated, 

 as is noted in the histories written about the Indies. Where they 

 came from, is doubtful; in New Spain at Puebla de Los Angeles 

 they came upon bones of huge size when they dug the foundations 

 of the parish church ; these indicated that the men had been enormous ; 

 they have found them also in other places. Near the Straits of 

 Magellan, inland from the coast of Los Cesares, live huge men who 

 are called Patagones ; they are like savages and wear deerskins for 

 clothing. It might be that they are the descendants of those who 

 were here and lived at Punta de Santa Elena. 



1123. In closing with the district of the Corregidor of Guayaquil, 

 I shall set last what may serve as dessert, an event which is remarkable 

 and worthy of note. In the village of Daule, which lies on the banks 

 of its river, teeming with alligators, as is usual in the hot country, 

 there is an Indian woman who is the chieftainess and mistress of 



