Chap. IV. sA M E %^I C J. 



The chief Place of the Quelenes is QopanaVatzJa, where there is good Cheefe, and 

 ftore of brave Cartel : The River Qnepa gliding through the midft thereof,lofeth ic 

 felfin the Northern Ocean. In this part of the Country are Beafts not unlike Apes, 

 with long Tails, which they wind about the Legs of thole whom they find fwim- > 

 ming and fo pull them under Water < wherefore they that go to Swim take Axes 

 along with them, to cut off their Tails. 



The Water of the River Blanco is clear and wholfom, running for the moft part 

 through Rocky Grounds, which neverthelefs are overfpread with Trees. 



In the higheft Ground of Chiapa, a League anda half from the City fyoU, fpring 

 clear Fountains, whofe Water ebbs and flows every fix hours. 



Near the Village call'd Afixa is one which runs three years together, though in 

 the drieft Seafon, and is dry three years, though it Rain never fo much. 



Not far from the Village Cinacatan is another Spring, whofe Water cures fevc- 

 ral SicknelTes, but kills all Birds and Beafts which drink of the fame. 



Here are likewife divers Baths. 



The Rivers which run out of the Valley Cbiapa, fall into two great Pits. 



Near the Village Bartholomew, in the Province Quelenes, is a ftrange Cavern, out 

 of which by the throwing of a ftone into the fame, are heard mighty noifes'like 

 claps of Thunder. 



Not far from the Village Chicomucolo, appears a Cavern, in which is a great Plain 

 on one fide, and a ftanding Lake, whofe Water is like Sand, on the other. 



The Spaniards, if they wanted not Slaves, might dig good ftore of Gold, Silver, 

 Copper, Lead, Tin, and Quickfilver, out of the Mynes on the Mountain Ecatepeck] 

 which is in nine Leagues compafs : The Wind blows fo ftrong after Smwifing, 

 that no Man is able to travel for it, but in the Night. 



227 



Sect. II. 



Vera Paz. 



m Bra To*, or The Country of True Teace, wasfo nam'dby the Spaniards, as they si tuat i onana 

 fay, becaufe it was never conquered by the Sword, but redue'd to ObedU Bounds ' 

 ence onely by the Preaching of the Dominican Fryers. It is bounded on the 

 Weft and South-Weft with Cbiapa . on the Eaft with fome part of Guatimala and 

 Honduras * and on the North with. Jucatan. It contains about thirty Leagues in 

 length, and almoft as much in breadth, being a woody and mountainous Countrey 

 for the moft part, yet well diftinguifh'd with Valleys and lower Ground. It is 

 much fubject to Rain, which 'tis faid to have for nine Moneths of the Year almoft 

 continually; by reafon whereof the Countrey, being otherwife hot, is much an- 

 noy'd with a kind o[Mofquit, or great fort of Gnats, which fpoil the Fruit very 

 much, and are otherwife not a little trouble to the People. Moreover,there happen 

 oftentimes terrible Earthquakes and Storms, with Thunder and Lightning. 



The chief Commodities of this Countrey, are a kind of Amber, which fome call commoii- 

 Ltquid Amber, which drops from divers of their Trees, and is faid to be a Commo- &8£ 

 dity very precious, and of much ufe . Maftick, Sanguis Draconic, Gum Anime, Sarfapa- 

 rtlla, C^M-Wood, and divers other Medicinal Drugs, which it affordeth in great 

 plenty. The Woods afford a fweet fmell, and the Trees in the fame grow a won. 

 derful heighth. 



The Canes which grow here, being a hundred Foot long, and proportionably 

 thick, ferve for Timber. 



A a % There 



