rics. 



Chap. IX, ' AMERICA. 617 



Province, where the Mountains are inhabited by the wild Chiugotos, who kill and 

 eat all the Spaniards they can get. 



The other Havens Wcftward, not comparable to Maracapana, are Flecbado, Sar- 

 dinas, and Burburute, where fome Sfanijh Families have a Salt.pit. 



Six Leagues up in the Countrey you come to the frcfli Lake Tocarigua, full of Ifhnds ™ a 

 little inhabited Ifles j the People whereof live quietly, and barter Gold. 



Towards the North- Weft the Ocean makes the great Inlet Trifle, before which 

 lies the Ifland Bonaire, very full of Cattel, and on each fide appear the Ayes and 

 Quaraeo, which abound with Fowl. 



The Promontory St. Ionian runs twenty Leagues into the Sea, and the Cape 

 Coquibocoa extends farther. Between both thefe runs the Channel of Venezuela, 

 which touches the Lake Maracapabo. 



Before Coquibocoa are feen the four low Iflands Monjes, with white fandy Creeks, 

 and full of Trees : out of the middlemoft rifes a high Mountain. 



On the Main Continent alfo the Mountains ©e Azjeyto appear with fcraggy tops 

 beyond the Point : And the Bay Honda affords a fafc Road. 



The Cape Ve la Vela hath on one fide the Inlet Tortete, and on the other, the Vil- 

 lages <%ancberia and Nojlra Sennora de los <%emedios h between both which runs the 

 Stream La Hacba. 



The German Commander, Nicbolas Federman, intended to have built a City on 

 Cape Vela, Anno 1535. but finding the Ground too low and unfruitful, the Pearls 

 hereabouts very fmall, and the Natives living onely on Fiflh and wild Herbs, he 

 changed hisRefolution. 



Sect. IV. 



The Mauds Margareta, Cubagua, and Coche. 



NOtwithftandingwe have already fpoken fomething of the Iflands Margaret*, 

 and Cubagua, in regard they are by fome rcckon'd amongft the Ifles of' 

 Northern America- yet becaufc they are by many accounted to make up a 

 part of the Divifion of Nev Anddufta, we (hall add in this place what we have 

 found moil worthy of Re- mention, though much to the fame purpofeas before. 



The Ifland Margareta, difcover'd by Chriftopher Qplumbm, Anno 1498. contains 

 thirty two Leagues in circumference, hath many Woods and Paftures, yet little 

 frefli Water. To the Eaftward of it lie the Cliffs Tejiigos, where it is very moun- 

 tainous, as alfo on the Eaft. Round about the fame are delicious Fifh, without 

 which the Natives could not live, becaufe the brackifli Soil produces but little Pro. 

 vifion. 



The chiefeft thing for which this Ifland Margareta is famous, is the Pearl- The Peari. 

 Fifliing, for which in times paft a great Trade was driven, though of late it is M^Lt 

 come to little or nothing. The Spaniards, with inhumane cruelty, taught the Ne- 

 gro's to Dive for the Pearls, for thofe that were not nimble or dextrous enough, 

 they beat unmercifully, dropt fcalding Wax or fcalding Oyl upon them, or ftig* 

 matiz'd them with hot Irons. The Pearl.Banks were covcr'd with five, fix, 

 feven, or eight Fathom Water ; from whence the Negro's pull'd the Oyfters with 

 fuch force, that the Blood gufh'd out of their Mouths and Nofes when they came 

 above Water to breath j after which, to refrefh them, they received a Glafs of 

 Wine and a Pipe of Tobacco. The Spanijh I<jay received a fifth part of the beft 

 Pearls that were taken here 5 but whether the Oyfters have forfaken this Place, or 



their' 



