Chap. V. <d M EX^IC A. %j) 



great River Ve las Talma*, which feparates Ni?T8? Spain from Florida, where they fpent 

 three days in vain, feeking to find a paflage over ; wherefore they at- laid took pie- . 

 ces of Timber, which joyning togcther,and (landing upon, they were Tow'd over 

 by Swimming Indians > y being gotten on the other fide, they March'd over fteep 

 Mountains, and thick Wildernefles, and came at laft to Zacatecas, on whofe Silver 

 Mines, the richeft in all America, work'd above three hundred Spaniards daily. 



S e c t. VI. 



Tabafco. 



THe laft Countrey belonging to T>{eT» Spain is Tabafco, bounded on the North ^f s t ^ 

 by the Northern Ocean, and on the Eaft with Jucatan 5 and however «C**3K 

 fome account it a diftinct Province, yet others make no mention of it, let- 

 ting it pafs for that part of Jucatan Which lies about the City Tabafco, from which 

 it feems to be denominated : The Ground level, and without Mountains, hath 

 many great Woods of Cedar-Trees, Srajtle, and others. Here arc alfo many good 

 Indian F ruit s,as the Manmeyes, Zapotes, Aguacates, and Guajabos. For three Moneths 

 they have continually dry Weather, the reft of the year being for the moft part 

 rainy ; which viciffitude of Moifture and Heat makes the Countrey exceeding 

 fruitful, infomuch that they have three or four Harvefts oiMai^ in a year. 



Vines, Figs, Lemmons, Oranges, Rice, Barley, and all forts of Garden-Herbs 

 grow here alfo in great plenty. 



. The Pools, Brooks and Lakes, abound likewife with all manner of Fifli : and 

 for Sea-Fi(li,befides the Tortugas, and Yguanras, the Manae,ot Sea-Cow, is of principal 

 note. 



This Fifli is terrible to behold, having a Head like an Ox, little Eyes, two Thch,,, 

 Feet near the Head in ftead of Fins, two round Holes in ftead of Ears, round 

 bones like Balls in its Brains, a Ihort Tail, and briftly Skin : The Females have 

 two Dugs, with which they fucklc their Young. 



Peacocks, Pheafants, Parrots, Quales, Hens, Pigeons, withfeveral forts of Birds Birdi; 

 altogether unknown to the Europeans, are here in great abundance. 



The Woods alfo abound with Tygers and Lyons, which do no little hurt to the *eaft»; 

 Inhabitants, Wild Hogs, Deer, and Rabbets, are likewife here in great plenty } 

 and Turtles of an exceeding bignefs : Likewife Apes, Polecats, and Squcrrils, 

 which do very much hurt to the Fruit-Trees, efpecially the Cacao. The Mufticbo's 

 are a great annoyance to the People, and difturb their reft at Night. 



Since the Spaniards have conquer'd Tabafco, they have fore'd the Inhabitants to kmguage* 

 obferve their Laws and Cuftoms. They fpeak three forts of Languages, amongft m»i 

 which that moft us'd, call'd Q?ontal, is copious of Words. The fecond, Zaques y is 

 fpoken on the Mountains which divide Cbiapa and Tabafco. The Mexican Tongue 

 was firft brought thither by the Garrifons which Mutec^uma plac'd there in the 

 Forts Zimatlan and Xicalango, and is the moft fpoken, in regard it hath not onely its 

 Accents, but is alfo of great ufc, partly becaufe it is underftood in moft places of 

 America, and partly becaufe the Priefts have made Songs in that Tongue, with 

 which the Tabafcans are much delighted. 



The chief City Noftra Sennora de la Vittoria, already mention'd in Jucatan, was fo 

 call'd by Ferdinand Cortefius, from the great Victory which he obtain'd over the 

 Indians when he march'd firft towards Mexico. 



Thus far of the Defcription of the feveral Parts and Divifions of Jfyy> Spain, dif 



E« 



V 



fering 



