zjo 



AMERICA. Chap. V. 



never have been fubdu'd by the Spaniards, had it not been for their Dogs, which 

 kept them in fuch awe, that thirty Spanifli Soldiers ventured to live in lllepbonfo 

 amongft thirty thoufand Mixes, who now drive a Trade in Cotton, liaise, and 



Gold. 



3 . Sanjago de Nexapa appears at a great diftance on a high Mountain, where al- 

 io twepty Soldiers with their Dogs were wont to awe the cruel Natives. 



4. The laft Place, built by Gonzales de SandoVall, Anno 1521. is Villa del Elpiritu 

 Santo, Commands fifty Indian Villages, which with great difficulty were brought 

 to fubmit to the Spaniards. 



The River AquiVtcolco affords a convenient Harbor, the Mouth thereof being a 

 hundred and ninety Paces broad. 



Upon the Southern Ocean is the Haven Guatulco, where the Ships that Sail to 

 Honduras and fern take in their Lading. The Cuftom-houfe belonging to this Place 

 was firft plunder'd by Sir Francis Drake, and nine years after burnt by Qandijh. 



The River Ometipu, which fpringing out of the Mountain Cacatepec, falls intoT*. 

 poanteque, abounds with divers forts of good Fifii,efpecially Cra-Fifli. There areal- 

 fo reckon'd of the Natives of this Province, no lefs than fifteen thoufand Perfons 

 that pay Tribute to the Spaniards, befides Women and Children, and alfoagreat 

 number of Spaniards. 



Sect. V. 



Baunds and 

 Dafcri prion 

 of Fanttct. 





Conqueft of 

 it difficult. 



Barbarous 

 Cuftoms of 

 the People. 





ra-nuco. 



PAnuco is the moft Northerly Province of IS^ew Spain, by fomc call'd Guajleca, 

 bounded on the Eaft with the Gulf of Mexico 5 on the Weft with Uxitipa, a 

 Countrey of Nev> Gallicia . on the North with fome undifcover'd Count reys 

 of Florida, from which it is divided by the <%iver off alms-, on the South with Mp. 

 choacan and Mexican*. It is call'd Tanuco, from a River of that Name, which turn- 

 ing from the Mountains Tepecfuan in 2^ Gallicia, and dividing NeTt> tBifcay from 

 the Province ofZacatecas, pafleth through the midft of this Countrey alfo, and at 

 laft empties itfelfinto the Gulf. 



This Countrey is reckon'd to be about fifty Leagues in length, and not much 

 lefs in breadth 5 of a fruitful Soil, having fome Mynes of Gold in it, and once very 

 populous till the Spaniards, about the Year 1511. difpeopled it by their infatiable 



cruelty. 



Before Ferdinand Cortefius, Francis de Garay attempted to Conquer this Province, 

 but after much pains to no purpofe, he return'd with but a fmall remnant of thofe 

 he carried with him . and though Cortefius fubdu'd the Countreys Ayotetextetlatan 

 and Chila, yet it was not without many confidcrable LofTes . for the Inhabitants 

 being valiant and cruel, not fearing the Spanifl? Bullets, ran in amongft them, and 

 made great Daughter, and (according to an old Cuftom in New Spain) drank their 



Blood. 



Thefe People, on their Feftival Days call'd %aeaxipo Veli^tli, which fignifies A 

 Flaying of Slaves, us d to pull offthe Skins of a certain number of Slaves, with which 

 they walkt about begging Alms from Hut to Hut, and whofoever deny'd them, 

 was fure of a Blow in the Face with the bloody Skin - of which fo long as there 

 was but one Lappet remaining, they went a Begging -, and whatfoever they got, 

 was employ'd in Ufes and Neceflaries belonging to their Idolatry. On the fore- 

 mention'd Days they alfo us'd other barbarous Cuftoms, amongft which this was 



one : 



