Chap. IV. 



<U M E % I C A. 



■11 



lies o£ Indians which pay Tribute. Three Leagues beyond Leon appears a high jTpirjr 

 Mountain, from whole top, both Morning and Evening, rifes a mighty fmoke, 

 ,and fometimes cafts out great fulphurous Stones over the neighboring Fields, and 

 on a fudden mighty Flames, h Dominic an Monk, in hopes to get fome melted Gold 

 out of its burning Mouth, went up the fame with four of his Fraternity, and 

 carry'd an Iron Chain and a Kettle, which were no fooner let down into the hole, 

 but they were immediately melted; yet not fo difcourag'd, they relblv'd to venture 

 a fecond time with ftronger Materials, which neverthelefs had the fame, or rather 

 worfc event ; for the Fire flew out in fuch a manner, that the Dominicans fadly 

 fcorch'd, had enough to do to efcape with Life, fince which none durft prefilme to 

 approach the fame. 



But befides the Epifcopal City Leon, Erected by Francifcus Fernandez, 2. Granada 

 acknowledges the fame Builder, and lying alfo on the fliore of Laguna de Nicaragua, 

 is adorn'd with a Caftle, Church, and fevcral Sugar-Mills : Not far from it lit 

 the fmall Lakes Mafaya and Lindiri 5 the firft which is inclos'd between exceeding 

 high Mountains, covers the Foot of the burning Mountain Mafaya ; the other falls 

 into Laguna de Nicaragua, near which is the fmoky Mountain Munbacho, furrounded 

 with Fruit-Trees* 



3. <& 4. The Towns Jean, and Neuya Segovia, which arc not far from thence, arc 

 of little confequence. 



5. fyaleio, this is, as it were, the Cbattam of America, being a place on the South- 

 Sea, where the King of Spain hath all his Ships built that are made of American Tim- 

 ber, and inhabited by few or none but Shipwrights, Mariners, and Men of that 

 kind of Profeflion. 



6*. {? 7. I^jcoya, Avarines. 



8. Cartago, forty Leagues diftant from Nicoya, and lying almoft in the midft of 



Ithe IJlbmus, or Streight oiDarien, equally diftant both from the North and South 

 Sea 5 on both which it is faid likewife to have a convenient Port or Haven for 

 Shipping. 



The Spaniards, when firft they Landed here , call'd this Countrey Mabomets fa* 

 radife, becaufe of its exceeding Fruitfulnefs. The Cacao which they ufe here in ftcad 

 of Money, is not unlike the Stone of an Almond. The Inhabitants, in Head of 

 ufing a Steel and Flint to ftrike Fire withal, rub two pieces of Wood together fo 

 long, till one of them is kindled ; and burn the Boughs of Pine-Trees in ftead of 

 Candles. Amongft the feveral Languages which they fpeak, the Mexican is the chief- 

 eft : Amongft their Recreations, Dancing is principal, which is pcrform'd af- ^fj^jj* 

 ter a very ftrange manner, for they meet fometimes two or three thoufand toge- dn s- 

 . ther, according to the bignefs of the Province, in a fpacious Field, which is made 

 clean before for that purpofe : He that leads the Dance goes backward, and with 

 many ftrange Geftures, turns himfelf about, which the reft, following four and four 

 together in a row, imitate, whilft their Tambores beat on hollow Instruments, and 

 fing Songs , which are firft ahfwer'd by the Ring-leader of the Dance , and then 

 feconded by the whole Company , each of them waving a Fan or a Callabajh, 

 and being all adorn'd with Plumes of Feathers on their Heads, and Strings vfrith 

 Shells about their Arms and Legs ; they alfo act feveral antick Tricks , the one, 

 the blind Man, the other, the Cripple, one feigns himfelf to be deaf, the other 

 makes a wry Mouth, one cries, and another laughs, whileft others drink healths 

 in Chocolate, which continues till Midnight. 



A King of this Countrey in former times us'd to feed the Fifh Manati with Bread, 

 in the Lake Guainabo, where it would appear at its being call'd Matto, Matto, which 



fignifics 



The Fidi 



