Cities and 

 Towns of 

 chirf note. 



4*° A M ET^I C A Chap. III. 



Sebajlian it (BeValca^ar, Governor of Quito, marching Jnno \y y 6. with a Company 

 of Spaniards to Ocabalo, where the Countrey <Papayan begins, was often let upon by 

 the Natives from their Ambufcades, and the many Inconveniences which he fuf- 

 fcr'd for want of Provifions, and trouble of travelling over the high Mountains 

 had neceflitatcd him to return, had he not been refolutely bent to difcover the 

 Countrey . to which purpofe marching on leifurely, he came into the heart of 

 Topayan, where his wearied People fufficiently refting themfelves amidft a fruitful 

 Countrey, where they found pleafant Fruit-Trecs, Houfes full of Provifions, and 

 frefh Rivers, which glided from the Mountain Andes, andfomeofthe Rivulets alfo 

 affording Gold, were encourag d to build feveral Villages . in which neverthelefs 

 they made no Settlement, either becaufe they could not get Gold enough, or elfe 

 being driven from thence by the valiant Natives. 



The Places of chief note in it, are 1. Popayan, fituate on the Banks of a fair Ri- 

 ver, but not nam'd,and in the midft of a Plain in a place of great Wealth, and en- 

 joying a good Air. The original of the Name Topayan is from the {afyue who Go. 

 vern'd there at the time of the Spaniards firft Arrival. It is a Biftiop's See, and the 

 ordinary Refidence of the Governor of the Province, The chief Buildings arc the 

 Cathedral, and a Monaftery of the Fryers De laMerced. The SaVanna Grounds to- 

 wards the North feed many fat Cattel. The Fields produce the beft American Mai^ 

 Some of t(ie adjacent Mountains either vomit Smoak,Flames, great Stones,or fcald* 

 ing Water, leaving a Salt behind it. Beyond the City Vopayan the great River M*g. 

 dalena takes its original in the Valley Cali, where feveral Brooks gliding from the 

 Mountain Andes, inhabited by the Cocunocos, unite their Waters. 



2. Jntiocbia, other wife call'd St. Fides de Antiochia y on the Borders of New Anda- 

 luzia, and about a hundred Leagues from <Popayan. In the midft of a fmall Territory 

 to which it gives Name, in the Valley Nore, between the River Magdalena and Varia, 

 wafh'd by Rivulets, whofe Sands are Golden, and whofe Banks are (haded with all 

 forts of Fr uit-Trees. The Inhabitants white and very rational, fleep in the Night 

 under the open Skye : Their Houfes are built a good diftance from the High- 

 ways . near which the Paftures feed abundance of Sheep. The Pools breed plenty 

 of Fifh, and the Mines (tore of Gold, efpecially in the Mountain Buritica. 



3. Caramanta, feated likewifeon the Banks of the River St. Martha, within a little 

 Province alfo of the fame Name . the Inhabitants whereof being valiantand ftrong 

 go naked, and dwell in little Huts, make white Salt out of a Fountain and a little 

 Lake: they generally go to Antiochia in fix hours, which is forty five Leagues, fo 

 fwift runs the Stream. 



4. St. Anne, in the Cantred or Hundred ofjn^erma, a Town neatly fituate upon 

 the fide of an Hill betwixt two Rivers, and in the midft of Plain no lefs pleafant 

 than fertile : It was fo call'd by BtValcaw 9 bcczuCc the Indians of this Place name the 

 Salt J, K er . it is furrounded with Villages and Woods on a high Plain between 

 two Rivers. The Air being exceeding hot, lightens generally every day. 



5. The Village Pueblo Liana, which is inhabited by little People, who Trade in 

 Salt, and have alfo Golden Rivulets. Near this Place is the Valley Jburra, confift, 

 mg ofmany fruitful Plains, moiftned by feveral Rivers ; the Inhabitants whereof 

 at the Spaniards firft coming thither, hang d themfelves, with their Wryes and 

 Children. 



6. St. J ago de Anna, built in a Wood of Palm-Trees, fo nam'd from the Terri- 

 tory in which it ftandeth, rich and famous for its Mines of Gold, which it is faid to 

 have many and very good : The Ground round about being Mountainous, hath 

 feveral Rivers, the chiefeft whereof call'd Qi Arma, is dangerous to crofs, efpecially 



in 





