Chap- VIII. *A M ET^I C J. 2 ^ 



their Difcourfe they pointed up to Heaven, call'd the Creator and Preferver of all 

 things Jpalito, and fignifi'd that they had recciv'd that Knowledge formerly from 

 thofe that were left of Tampbilius Narvae^s Army, who having rang'd through 

 Florida were driven hither. 



Thefe People alfo Prefentcd Efpejus many tann'd Skins, with which he went to 

 a great Village, the Inhabitants whereof were very courteous, and barter'd them 

 for brave Plumes of Feathers and Cotton Cloaks, ftreak'd with blue and white : 

 but Efpejus having no Interpreters whom they could underftand, could not learn 

 by what Name they were known 5 yetby figns they exprefs'd what time of the year 

 they had Precious Stones brought to them . and alfo what their Countrey produ* 

 ced j and alfo that abundance of thofe Riches was to be found in a Province about 

 five days Journey Weftward from thence, whither they freely ofFer'd to conduct 

 the Spa?iiards, which accordingly they did, bearing them company one and twenty 

 Leagues to the next Province, inhabited by a People whofe Name alfo they could 

 not be inform'd of,yet flaying three days amongft them,they were Entertain'd with 

 Prefents and Dances both Night and Day. The Countrey afforded them alfo ftore 

 of Venifon and Fruits : Thofe that underftood Minerals, judg'd that there were 

 likewife feveral Gold Mines. 



Leaving this Province, they entred into a great Wildemefs of Pine-Trees, in 

 which they travell'd twelve Leagues in fifteen days, without feeing either Man 

 or Houfc - but at the end of the Wood they fpy'd a Village of Straw Huts, where 

 there were great quantities of white Salt, and Deer Skins neatly drefs'd. ThePco. 

 pic of the Place courteoufly Entertain'd the Spaniards, and conduced them along 

 the River Del Norte,to New Mexico : The Banks of the River on each fide was plan- 

 ted with Nut-Trees and Vines, which fpread themfelves out above three Leagues; 

 through which they had fcarce pafs'd three days together, when they law ten po« 

 pulous Villages pleafantlyfeated on the (aid River, from whence came many thou- 

 lands of the Natives to meet Efpejus, who was not fo much amaz'd at the great 

 number of People, as at their extraordinary Civility and decent Habits ; for they 

 Entertain'd him with well drefs'd Meat, roafted Poultrey, and pleafant Fruits : 

 Their Garments were Cotton Cloaks, Deer-skin Breeches, Shoes and Boots of good 

 Leather. The Women wore their Hair neatly Comb'd and Plcited. TheU Houfes 

 were almoft four Stories high, handfomely built, and divided into fair Chambers, 

 had Stoves or Cells under Ground againft the Cold in the Winter. Every Village 

 was Govern'd by a Cafique,whok Commands were publifli'd by the Algua%jles, Each 

 Houfe had a peculiar place in which their Idol flood, before whom they Cct Meat 

 twice a day. Near the High-ways flood Temples very curiouily painted, wherein 

 their Deity, as they fay, diverted himfelf in his Progrefs from one Village to ano- 

 ther. At certain Diftances near their Plough'd Lands, flood Portico's, fupported on 

 four Columns, under which the Husband-man us'd to eat, and take his Noon-ileep, 

 Befides their Swords, which were ftrong enough to cut a Man through the Middle, 

 they us'd Bowes and Arrows : Their Shields were made of Deer Skins, 



Efpejus having flay'd here four days, went to the Province De las Tiguas, which 

 had fixtecn Villages • in the chiefeft whereof, call'd <Poala y Jugufiine ^uj^ and his 

 Brother Monk Francifcm de Lope^ had been flain, befides four others ; wherefore 

 the People being confeious of this Crime, and fearing that Revenge would follow, 

 fled to the Mountains, from whence they could not be enticed, whilft the Spaniards 

 found their Houfes full of Provifions and fome Minerals, 



Now thofe being dead whom they fought for, fome thought it convenient to re- 

 turn 3 but Efpejus and Beltran perfwaded the contrary, alledging, That farther up, 



according 



