Chap. VIII. *J M EX^I C J. %95 



Houfes, built on the Banks of a pleafant River, fliaded with Vines and Nut-Trees, 

 and thick planted with Flax : They inform'd Efpejus, that near a River whicli 

 runs eight Miles towards the North Sea, were fuch ftately Palaces, as could not 

 be beheld without great admiration. But Efpejus going back a plain Road to Cibola, 

 found not onely thofe whom he had fent from Zaguato, but alio Beltran, with the 

 other Soldiers,who having been detained thereby theCivilities and kind Entertain- 

 ments of the Indians y were now upon returning home } fo that Efpejus was left 

 alone with eight Soldiers, who refolv'd to venture their Lives and Fortunes with 

 him. They travell'd along the River Del Korte, through the Provinces De los Guires 

 and Habutas, whofe Mountains, over-fpread with Pine-Trees and Cedars, have 

 many rich Mines. The-Natives wore painted Cotton Cloaks, and dwelt in ftately 

 Houfes five Stories high. At the Borders of the Realm Los Tamos they wereftopt, 

 and not permitted to come on farther ; wherefore being but few in number, and 

 feveralof them fick, they judg'd it convenient to crofs the River T>e las Vaccas (fo 

 call'd from the abundance of Cows that were thereabouts) to the River Conchos and 

 the Village Bartholomew, where Efpejus was informed, that Beltran was long before 

 his arrival gone to Guadiana. 



And now that we may have the better Account of 2^ Mexico (which ^uy^, 

 Efpejus, and !Beltran endeavored to difcover) it will be neceflary to begin with the 

 firft original thereof, according as feveral ancient Hiftories make mention. 



The moft ancient PofleiTors of that part of Northern America call'd NeTb Spa'w] Fjrft«i*i*j 

 were for their fierce and falvage Nature call'd ChichimecA, who dwelling in Caves, am««, 

 fed on Moles, Rabbets, Hedghogs, Serpents, Roots and Herbs. Whilft the Women 

 accompanied their Husbands in their Travels, the Children were put into Baskets, 

 and hang'd in a.Trce. No manner of Government was to be found amongft them. 

 They never Till'd their Ground till the Navatlacans came from New Mexico (which 

 was anciently divided into two Countreys, Adrian and Teuculbuacan) to New Spain $ 

 after which they Sow'd their Lands. 



The Navatlacans (who us'd to dwell in Houfes, worfhip Images, plough their 

 Lands, and obey their Governors) were divided into fix Tribes, each Tribe poffef- 

 fing their limited Bounds : and there goes a Tradition, That out of fix Pits that 

 are to be Teen in New Mexico, the Navatlacans had their original. The time when 

 they deferred New Mexico, as their mod authentick Hiftories or Records declarc,was 

 (according to our computation) Anno 940. and they farther affirm, that they fpent 

 forty years in a Journey, which might have been travell'd in a Moneth : The 

 reafon of which tedioufnefs was, becaufe they reftcd in all places where they found 

 a fruitful Countrey i but as they had advice from their diabolical Spirits, which (as 

 they fay) appear'd vifibly to them, they ftill went on farther and farther, yet left 

 behind thofe that were aged, fick, and decrepid, building convenient Houfes for 

 them, and appointing Overfeers to look after them. The Ruins of the Houfes are 

 yet to be feen on the Way along which they pafs'd. 



The fix Tribes divided themfelves after this manner : Four of them fctled 

 round about the great Lake of Mexico. The Sicbumilans taking the South part, built, 

 befides two other Towns, a Metropolis of their own Name, as the Q?alca?is on the 

 North. The Tapunecans built J^capu^alco in the Weft, whkh fignifies A Pifmires Hole, 

 becaufe of the abundance of Inhabitants. The Eaftern part was taken up by the 

 Cbalhuans. And all thefe Names have a peculiar fignification ; the firft fignifies 

 People of Floury Fields . the fecond, People of Mouthes ; the third, People of Bridges y and 

 the fourth, Crooked People. Not long after, the tatluicans, a ftrong People, went over 

 the Mountains on the other fide of the Mexican Lakc,where they built feveral Towns 



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