

*H 



<t>f M E <KI C A. 



Chap. IV. 



CHAP. IV. 



Its^ Situation 

 and Bouuds. 





Trees and 

 Plants. 



Bird*;: 



G 



Guatimala. 



Uatimala ftretcheth to the IHbmus, or Neck of Land, wfyich, as we laid, join- 

 eth the Northern and Southern parts of the New World together. 



This Countrey is bounded Northward with the Veninfula of Jucatan 

 abovefaid, and part of theGulph or Bay of Honduras • on the South, with Afore del 

 Zur ; on the Eaft and South-Eaft,it hath Cajlella Aurea 5 and on the Weft, New Spain. 

 The length of it liethuponjthe Coaft of Mare del Zur, and is faid to belittle lefsthan 

 three hundred Leagues . but the breadth not half fo much, and in fome places very 

 narrow. It is generally a fertile and good Countrey in all refpe&s, but efpecially 

 abounding in Gattel and good Paftures ; it is fubdivided into feven inferior Pro- 

 vinces' or Countreys, which are i.Cbiapa. z.Verapa^. j. Honduras. 4. Nicaragua. 

 *).Veragua. 6. Qofia <l{ica ; and 7. Guatimala, fpecially fo call'd : all differing in 

 Language and Cuftoms one from another. 



The Biflhoprick (as it is now call'd) of Qbiapa is border'd on the Weft with Neifr 

 Spain 5 on the Eaft with Vera <P^ 5 and on the South with Mare del Zur. It is a 

 Countrey much fliaded with Woods, and thofe replenifh'd with many fair and 

 goodly Trees,of divers forts, and of the largeft fize,as Oaks, Pines, Cedar, Myrtle, 

 and Cyprefs*Trees, befides others which yield them a good kind of Rozen, precious 

 Gums, crc. alfofeveral forts of Balfom, as white, red, green, and black, not onely 

 pleafant to the Scent, but an excellent Remedy for all manner of green Wounds : 

 the bed of it drops out of the cut Bodies of the Trees ; and the worft is prefs'd out 

 of the Wood and Leaves, 



There are alfo proper to this Countrey feveral other kinds of Trees and Plants 

 as that whofe Fruit taftes like Pepper and Cloves, being of a great heighth . a 

 Tree whofe Leaves cure all ulcerated Sores, or the bitings of any poyfonous 

 Beaft. 



There is a fort of Cabbage called llantas, which grows to the heighth of a Tree, 

 fo that Birds make their Nefts in them ; they arc eaten likewife like other com- 

 mon Cabbages. 



There is alfo an Herb with narrow Leaves, which is no fooner touch'd, but it 

 (hrinks up to nothing 5 but at the going away of thofe which touch it, it obtains 

 its former vigour. 



Here are likewife Quails, Ducks, Geefe, Pheafants, Parrots, Turtle-Dovcs, Pi- 

 geons, and the like, in great abundance. 



Amongftthe feveral forts of Falcons which breed in this Countrey, there is one 

 fort which hath one Foot proper to its kind, the other like that of a Goofe i it feeds 

 on Fifli along the Rivers. 



The Bird loto-Que^tall y which is fomewhat fmaller than a Pigeon, with green 

 Feathers and a long Tail, is taken onely for its Tail, which when the Indians have 

 pull'd out, they let the Bird fly again, there being a Law amongrVthem, that who- 

 foever kills one of them, is to fuffer death. 



The Cranes here are of a dark Gray ; the biggeft of them have a tuft of Fea- 

 thers like a Crown upon their Heads. 



The 



