z\z 



AMERICA. 



Chap. IV 



agreement for twenty Pound of Silver, with the Governor Joan de Miranda, [who 

 inform'd them, that they had not the leaft knowledge of the HolLunkrs Fleet, till 

 the Evening, when the Beacon on funta La%y.e was fir'd : Moreover, that the Ci- 

 ty was inhabited by two hundred Spaniards, and as many more Mulatoes and Moors* 

 and that the Trade thereof was much gone to decay, becaufe there had been no 

 Gallies there in two years before. 



Twenty feven Leagues from this City lies the Village Jorgo. de Olancbo, where 

 four thoufand Spaniards force Tribute from fixteen thoufand Indians , who polTcls 



much Gold. 



Sect. IV. 



Situation and 

 bounds. 



Nature of the 

 Inhabitants. 



Citl «. 



N 



Nicaragua. 



Icaragua is a County of this Province, border'd Northward with Honduras $ 

 on the Eaft, with the Mlantick Ocean, and part of Veragua 5 on the South, 

 with Mare del Zur ; and on the Weft, with Guatimala,bcln^ call'd by Diego 

 Lope^de Sal^ado, The New kingdom of Leon, and comprizing feveral little Territo- 

 ries, as Nicoya, Nequecberi, Mabyth, Deria, Mafaya, Mandigua, Qacokaque, Cepeoco, Los 

 Micos, Madira, and the Contales. It hath few Rivers in it, the want whereof is fup- 

 ply'd by the benefit of a great Lake , in the midft of the Countrey, call'd by the 

 Spaniards, Laguna de Nicaragua , containing , as is fiippos'd , above one hundred 

 Leagues in compafs. It empties it felf by the Port of St. Juan into the Atlantick or 

 North-Sea, but reacheth as far as the South or Mare del Zur, at leaft within a very- 

 few Leagues; and from whence fome Spanijh Captains are faid to have made a pal- 

 fage, though with much difficulty, into the Lake, and from thence to the Norths 

 Sea. It is abundantly well ftor'd with good Fiflh, but withal much haunted with 

 Crocodiles,- and the Countrey about it lb plentiful in all things, efpecially Cattel, 

 Cotten-Wool, Sugars, and all kind of Fruits : Amongft which, the chiefeft is the 

 Zeiba, which is of fo great a thicknefs, that fifteen Men holding Hand in Hand, can 

 fcarce encompafs the fame. The Callabafies ripen here in fourteen days time : The 

 Sea along the Coaft, breeds Whales and other Sea*Monfters, which are often feen 

 above Water. 



The Inhabitants of this Countrey, (except the Cbontales, which live on the 

 Mountains, and maintain their old Salvage Cuftoms) have for the moft part 

 learnt the Spanif? Tongue and Manners, and exercife themfelves in all forts of 

 Arts and Siences, efpecially in Working of Silver, making of Clothes, Wax- Work, 

 and the like: From the Mountains they gather Balfom, Licjuid*Amber, Turpen. 

 tine : They alfo drive a great Trade in Cotton, Skins, and feveral forts of Provi- 

 sions, to Panama^ and Nombre de Dios. 



The Lake Laguna de Nicaragua , which hath a hundred and feventeen Leagues in 

 Circumference, and round about inhabited, is by three Leagues of Land fepara- 

 ted from the South-Sea ; and difcharges its Waters into the River Defaguadero, 

 which falls into the Northern Ocean. Alpbonjm Qalera , and Diego Mackuca de Zuafo 9 

 were the firft that Sail'd out of the foremention'd Lake into the Sea , not without 

 many dangers, by reafon of the great Water-falls, caird Q{c?idales, which fall into 

 the River Defaguadero, and fore'd them often times to draw their Barques over the 

 Land. 



The chief City is, t. Leon, which is furrounded with Woods , and lies dole by 

 the Lake ; hath a great Church, five Cloyfters belonging to the Monks, de la Merccde, 

 feveral Houfes for the King's Officers, and a hundred and twenty thoufand F&tril* 



lies 



