4°& 



a M E <KI C A. 



Chap. III. 



Description 

 of Granada. 



G 



Towns of 

 chief note. 



Sect. II. 



Granada. 



panada, fpccially fo cali'd, is a Countrey of a very temperate and good A ir, 

 as hath been before obferv'd, neither fubjedt to over-much Cold, nor to 

 extremity of Heat ; which is the more to be admir'd by reafon of its near- 

 nefs to the Line, from which it is diftant Northward but a very few Degrees. 



The Towns and Places of chief importance are, i. St. Foy, commonly cali'd 

 St. Foy de <Bagota, which was the old Name of this Province, and to diftinguifli it 

 from another St.Foy,in the Countrey of 2S£m? Mexico above mentioned. It is the Me- 

 tropolis and Capital City of this Province, an Arch-biftiop's See, and the ordinary 

 Refidence of the Governor, built by the above-mention'd Gonfaho Ximenes upon 

 the Lake cali'd GuataVita, and hath been long fince inhabited by above fix hundred 

 Families of Spaniards. 



2. St. Michael, twelve Leagues Northward of St. Foy, and a well Traded Town. 

 The Indians that dwell about this Place being above five thoufand, pay great Tri- 

 bute yearly. Not far from hence lies the Lake GuataVita, where the Inhabitants in 

 former times Offer'd much Gold to their Idols. 



3. Tocaima, fourteen Leagues Weftward from St. Foy, within a Territory which 

 antiently belong'd to the Pancbes y who yet poffefs the worftpart of it, lying ftill wild 

 and unreduced : It is fituate on the Banks of the great River <Pati, which falls into 



SX^n! tJie Rivulct Magdalena. This City, which enjoys the benefit of a wholfom Cli* 

 17J! ™ matc ' is furrounded with Mines of Gold, Copper, Silver, and Lead. And befides 

 the Fruits of the Countrey, zllSpanijh Plants thrive exceedingly after once Planted - 

 and though Sheep will not breed here, yetKine, Hogs, and Goafs increafe daily, 

 but are often devour'd by Tygers, Lyons, and Bears. The Woods produce Nut- 

 Trees, Cedars, Guaiacum, or <Poc*-0W,and the wonderful Tree Zeyba, whofe Leaves 

 fall offevery twelve hours, and grow again. The Fowls of this Countrey are ma- 

 ny and leveral. Near the City are fulphurous Fountains, whofe Waters cure Scabs 

 and Leprofie, In the Valleys alfo flow Springs of fait Water, which thrown on 

 Herbs, turns to Rozen and Pitch, and is good to make Boats tight. The tops of 

 the Mountains are continually covcr'd with Snow, notwithstanding fome of them 

 vomit forth horrible Flames and Allies, which arc blown feveral Leagues over the 

 Countrey. The viciflitude of the Weather occafions two Summers and two Win- 

 ters . the firft Summer begins in December, and the fecond in June . the firft Winter 

 accordingly begins in March, and the other in OElober. This alteration of Seafons 

 is not diftinguifli'd by any change of Heat or Cold, but the continuance of fair 

 Weather during the Summer, and in the Winter, of fuch terrible Hurricanes, that 

 blow from North to South, or from South to North, with fuch Thundering and 

 Lightning, as if the end of the World were at hand. The cWeft Trees that grow 

 here are Cedars, and one that bears exceeding great Almonds. The Quaque alio 

 bears a pleafant Fruit about the bignefs of a Goofe-Egg ; and the Fig-Tree, Fias as 

 large as Oranges. The Jgna^a which grows here is of fuch a nature, that'an Euro* 

 pean fleeping under it, fwells exceedingly, but an Indian burfts. The Bark and 

 Sprigs of the Hobo, which grows high and round, ferve againft Swellings and Ul- 

 cers, and occafion alfo Loofnefs. Sugar-Canes grow alfo here in great abundance, 

 amongft which feed certain Beaftslike Hogs, whofe Navels grow on their Backs . 

 and large Stags. The Fountains in mod places of this Countrey run with falc 



Water . 



