78 



A M E%^I C A. 



Chap. III. 



Strange paffages on 3fa- 



Stterifict-ljluni. 



Exceeding horrible Sa- 

 crifices. 



Matdcn-Ijlttthi. 



Fmewhianum a City. 



forea-River which fell with fo ftrong a Current into the Mexican Sea, tlut.jt 

 retained itsfweetnefs for the fpace of two Leagues. 



This River, flowing out of the Province Tabafco, was call'd Grifalva : upon 

 whofe Banks flood above fix thoufand Americans ; and in the Water appear'd a 

 hundred Boats with Armed Men, which Row'd aboard the Sfanijb Ships. 

 The Interpreters oiCuba y whofe Language agrees for the moft part with the 

 Tabafcers, prevail'd fo much, that the King himfelf came to the chief Com- 

 mander Grifaha, and bartering with him, gave him as much Gold as his Iron 

 Helmet, Breaftplate, and other Armor weighed. 



Soon after they Landed on the I/land of Sacrifice, fo call'd from the horrid 

 Sacrifices which the Inhabitants made daily. ■ 



Amongft other ftrange Images, there flood a great Lyon of Marble, feem- 

 ing almoft decollated with a great gafli ; into which Wound they pour'd hu- 

 mane Blood warm, which wasreceiv'd into a Stone Trough fet for thatpur- 

 pofe underneath ; then the Figure of a Man Carv'd in Alabafter, bowing for* 

 ward, as if looking into the Trough upon the Blood. Thofe which were 

 facrificed were Prifoners takqji on the neighboring Coafts, whom bringing 

 before their Idols, they ripping open make no farther infpe&ion, but onely 

 to whip out the Heart j with which having fmear'd the Lips of their Idols, they 

 throw it into the Fire : the Heads and Corps they let lie unburi'd ; whofe flefliy 

 parts, efpecially their Cheeks, they feaft upon. 



The next Ifland is inhabited by Women y to which Annually their Neigh- 

 bors go, pretending merry kindnefs, but upon amorous inclinations: and 

 Plough and Till their Ground, and Weed their Gardens. 



The chief City ofTabafco is Vontcnchianum, and contains above fifteen hun- 

 dred Houfes, all built of Stone hardned with baking after their manner • 

 which in fome Places, befides their Turrets and Temples, yield a pleafantPro* 

 fpe<a at a great diftance. Fourteen eminent Towns more did the Spaniards alfo 

 fee in Tabafco* 



When 



