zz6 



AMERICA. 



Chap. IV. 



The Serpent 

 l^ttanua. 



Baboons. 



Towns and 



Villages of 

 Note. 



No lcfsrcfolute arc the Indians in taking the Ibitobaca, which is an Eil long, of a 

 crirhfotifeoJt^ the Bones whereof they wear 



about^tjieir N$£j*S- in/ftcad of Chains. 



The lquan Jerpent which doth no manner of hurt, though terrible to look 



upon to thofe vfrJft'cA know it not, having a Bag under its Chin, a glittering Comb 

 on its Head, and oil its Back fliarp Bones, which ftand like a Saw, arid a long Tail : 

 It lays fifty Eggs at a time as big as Acorns, of a very good tafte, and fitto eat when 

 boyl'd : Italfo lives both in the Water and on the Land. 



Here are alio many Baboons, which are big and heavy, with ugly Heads, fhort 

 Legs like a Man, *and Tails ftanding upwards 5 they eat all forts of Fruit, but 

 chiefly covet after Wine and Bread -and are To lafcivious, that they often fct 

 upon Women : The Fernales generally bring forth two, one Male, and the other 

 Female. There is alfo another fort, whofe Skins, being red, are full 'of little 

 Spots. 



The ancient Inhabitants of Chiapa (divided into the Chiapanecas, the deques, the 

 Zeltates, and the Quelenes) are very Civil and Witty ,alfo skilful in Painting, Singing, 

 Breaking of Horfes, and many other Trades. 



The Places of more principal note in this Countrey, inhabited by the Spaniards^ 

 are n Qudad <%eal, pleafantly feated in the midft of a round Vale or Plain, and al- 

 moft encompafs'd with Hills reprcfenting the form of an Amphitheatre • alfo at 

 the Foot of one which ftands in the midft of the reft, the City is built. It is a City, 

 fpecially Priviledg'dby the KingofS/74/Vi, having a Court of Juftice, Cathedral,' 

 and Dominican Cloyfter 5 of a pure and temperate Air, and the Countrey rojjnd 

 about plentifully abounding both in Corn and Fruit, onely fomewhat too; cold ta 

 produce Lemmons and Oranges ; but for Pears, Apples, Peaches, Quinces, Cher- 

 ries, and the like, they grow here in great abundance. 



2. Q)iapa 9 which giveth Name to the Valley aforefaid ; It is a Biflbop's See, and 

 famous, if but for one of its Prelates, <vi^ 'Bartholomeodelas Cafas, of the Order of 

 Predicants, who was Bifliop of this City, and his Memory juftly precious amongft 

 the poor Americans, at this day, for his Charity towards them, and for the ftout and 

 zealous oppofition which he made againft the Spaniards cruel and inhumane deal- 

 ings with the Natives at the beginning of their Conquefts : by which at laft, not- 

 withstanding much difficulty and refiftance made by interested Perfons of the other 

 Side, he procur'd them liberty, and an EdicT: from the Emperor in favor of them ; 

 whereby they Were declar'd to be a Free People, and not Slaves, and the Spaniards 

 forbidden to ufc them any longer as fuch, or to force them to any kind of Labour 

 againft their wills, or otherwife than by agreement, with them, which Liberty they 

 enjoy tp this day ♦ and though the Spaniards arefaid to give them very frnall Wages 

 in fome places, and for their Work in their Sugar-Mills (which is no fmall Labor) 

 not above five ^jyals f djr Two fhillingi fix pence a Week, for the Maintenance of 

 themfelves, their Wives ami Children yet by reafon it is with Confcnt, and in a 

 Countrey where all things are plentiful and cheap, their Condition is much better 

 than it was,and the favor which that good Bifhop did them, never to be forgotten. 

 It isatprefentagrcat and populous City, and lieth almoftinthc mid-way betwixt 

 the Cities of Mexico and Guatimala. 



j. St. Bartholomews, in the Countrey of the Quelenes - 



4. Tecpatlan, the chief of twenty five Villages, faid to belong to the Zoqw* 

 Here the Dominicans have another Cloyfter. 



The Zeltates poflefs a fruitful Countrey, liave thirteen Villages planted with 

 Trees that yield Cocbtnile, being under a Common-wealth Government. 



The 



