56 



Fights with Porefim. 



Tilts,] 



*X M EX,! C A: Chap. III. 



But Torefto, not able to endure the Sea with his (mail Boats, refolv'd to fur- 

 prize one of the Ships that lay before Jamaica j but Columbus fo much prevented 

 him, that meeting him in his return, after a hot difpute made him his Prifoner. 

 But thus ended not his misfortunes • for the Veflels which he fought in foon 

 after funk., and no fhip to be found in Jamaica to tranfport him thence. Laftly, 

 he agreed with fome Indian Fifliermen, to carry T>idac6Mendo%a to St. T>07nmica y 

 that there he might hire two VeiTels to carry him back to Spain : which De- 

 fign taking effect, he arrived there in fafety : where after he had refrefli'd him* 

 fclfat the Spanijb Court, after his fo long and unfortunate a Voyage he fell 

 fick, and died on the eighth of May 1506. 



Mean while, the Affairs of Hijpaniola grew more out of order : for Bomba- 

 dilla joyning with Ximenes, refolv'd to hoard up a huge Treafure of Gold, 

 though with the infinite oppreffion of the Natives : of which King Ferdinand 

 having intelligence, fent Nicholas Olanda thither with thirty Sail $ who being 

 nominated Vice-Roy, anchored in forty days before Hifpaniola. No fooner 

 arriv'd, but Hombadilla and Ximenes fled, leaving their vaft Treafure, amount- 

 ing to ten hundred thoufand Ducats ; which' guarded with four hundred Spa- 

 niards in twenty four Ships was fent to Spain : but fo it hapned, that they were 

 all fwallowed up in the main Ocean, none knowtftg to this day in what La- 

 titude they were loft. 



Defcfiptio» of Cwi*tut. 



Sect. VI. 



Pietro Alponfo Nigno his Voyage. 



Yyietro £{igno, encourag'd by fome of thofe that had be£n with Columbus at the 

 J - Ifles of Pearl, Rigg'd out a Ship at his own charge, with fpecial order in his 

 Commiffion, that he fhould riot touch on any Coaft within fifty Leagues of 

 any Place Columbus had formerly difcover'd. But he little obferv'd his Orders,' 

 and what he was commanded j for Sailing into the Haven Curiana } he barter 'd 

 Shells, Needles, Glafs, and fuchlike Trifles,for abundance of Pearls,which the 

 Wanders brought aboard, for he himfelf having but thirty Men, durft not ven* 

 ture afiiore. Twenty days this bartering Trade continued, Orient Pearls for 

 Toys . but finding at laft, that they were a civil and hofpitable People, he 

 Landed, where they entertained him in Hovels built of Wood, and cover'd 

 with Palm-Leaves - y before their Doors lay great Hills of Oyfter-fiiells, the 

 Fifli being eaten, and the Pearls us'd for an ornament • Conies, Hares, Phea* 

 fants, Pigeons, Geefe, Dueks, Deer, and wild Swine, are their ufual Food - 

 and their Bread is made of the Roots of Trees.Moreover,CWnu?w abounds with 

 thick and fhady Woods, which relbund in the night with the cries and roar- 

 ings of wild Beafts : but though they are terrible fierce and voracious, yet the 

 Natives ftoutly venture in amongft the thickeft of them , arm'd onely with 

 Bowes and Arrows. The Inhabitants are of Complexion tawny, their Hair 

 long and curl'd • their Teeth they keep white with an Herb, which they con- 

 tinually hold betwixt their Lips. The Women perform their bufinefs of 

 Husbandry, Ploughing and Sowing. The Men are Soldiers, following the 

 bufinefs of War : but in Peace their Exercifes are Hunting and Dancing. 

 They keep annual Fairs, where from all Parts of the Countrcy they bring their 

 Commodities to buy and barter. They have their Gold from Caucbieta, fix 

 days Sail Weft ward from Curiana. 



Thither 



