%6j 



Rivers of 

 Mtxhmh, 



Chap. V. AMERICA. 



] Lime and Smoak abating, Captain Diego de Ordas went up to view the place 

 whence the Fire was caft forth . which curiofity and preemption of his, had like 

 to have coft him his Life, for the fulphury Smoak breaking forth on a fudden, had 

 almoft ftifled him. 



Moreover, the Biflioprick of Tlafcala, is on the North Coaft wafh'd by the River 

 PapotoaVa, fince cali'd AlVarado, from a Spam/h Commander, who firft Steer'd his 

 Courfe thither ; The next Stream nam'd Banderas, is fo cali'd, becaufe the Natives 

 held white Clothes on Poles, to invite the Spaniards afliore. The third is Aimer U, on 

 which, CortepHS, a year after the taking of Mexico, built the Town Mcdeltm, as aforc- 

 mencion'd. 



Along the Tlafcallan Chore, waflTd by the Northern Ocean, lie the Ifles Stoned, 

 Verde, and Sacrificios : The firft received its denomination fxomlVhite Land, the other 

 from Green Trees 5 and the third, becaufe Joan de Greyalve, who firft Difcover'd Hew 

 Spain, Landing on this Ifland, found a Bloody Altar there, with Sacrific'd People 

 with open'd Brefts, chopt off Arms and' Legs. 



The River Almeria falling into the Ocean oppofite to the Sacrificios, the Spanifl) 

 Ships came often to an Anchor there . but in thefe latter times, they have forfaken 

 ttie fame, becaufe the Northern Winds us'd to blow very hard againft the (hore, 

 and fpoil'd many VelTels : But Henry Hawks gives this reafon, That a dreadful ap- 

 parition of Spirits frighted the Spaniards from thence. 



In the Biflioprick Tlafcala, is alfo compriz'd the Province Tepeaca, whofe Metro- TheProvin » 

 polis was built by Qorte^, when with great Lofs he was fent from Jlmeria. The 

 Soil thereabouts is barren and ftony ; the Water which they have in the City, is 

 brought in Pipes from a River which flows out of the Mountains into the Market 

 place. The plain Countrey hath many good Paftures. The Inhabitants thereof 

 fpeakfour forts of Languages; of which, the commoneft is the Mexican, others 

 ufe the Topolucan or Otoman Tongues, 



The Village Alyoxucan appears afar off on a high Mountain, on whofe top is a ***** 

 Lake of a hundred and fifty Fathom in circumference; the Water whereof is very 

 cold, and of a bluifli Colour , and neither Ebbs nor Flows, to which the Villagers 

 climb along a narrow Path. 



Not far from thence, in the Plain, are two other very deep Lakes : The firft 

 call'd Tlacae, is a League in circumference, and breeds delicate white Fifh, not 

 above a Fingers length : The fecond nam'd Jlcbicbican, about the fame bignefs, 

 which in ftormy Weather is very turbulent. 



Amongft the Fowls of this Countrey , the moft noted is a little Summer Bird, J^Jd toti 

 with a long crooked Tail, fpeckled Feathers . feeds on nothing but Flowers and 

 the Dew . about Harveft time, when the Rain ceafes, it hangs faft with its Bill on 

 a Tree, and as foon as the firft Rain falls, it revives again. 



In this Countrey tcpeacaarc five Villages, in each of which is a Francifcan Cloy- 

 fter and convenient Hofpital. 



In this Countrey they gather the Water in the time of the Rainy Moneths* iri a 

 digg'd Pool, which every Morning produces little Toads with long Tails, which 

 in few days fall off; but thefe little ones growing to be grcat,make a moft dreadful 

 noife in the Night : From Oftober till March, not one drop of Rain falls in this 

 Countrey; during which time, the Northern Winds make a dry and wholfome 

 Air, yet oftentimes a tempeftuous Sea, to the lofs of many Ships. 



Farther up into the Countrey, between Vera Crux and Los Jngelos, lies the Vil* 

 lage %inconanda . and alfo Xalapa and fcrota built of Straw Houfes in the middle of 

 a Wood of Cedar and Pine-Trees, inhabited by the Spaniards, for the accommoda. 





