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The name of Matanzas was given to this place on the following 

 account. Before the illand was conquered, a Spanilh veffel was wrecked 

 on this coaft, in her voyage from St. Domingo to the Lucayan Iflands 

 to procure jflaves. Thirty men and women efcaped to the land, and were 

 met by a number of Indians who offered them an hofpitable reception, 

 and propofed to take them in their canoes. Our people being embaiked, 

 when they were in the middle of the river the Indians upfet the canoes, 

 and killed or drowned them all except three men and one woman who 

 was handfomej fhe was taken by one of their principal caciques, and 

 the three men were allotted to others. After the conqueft of the ifiand 

 was cffeded, fhe and the Indian chief parted, and I afterwards knew her 

 married in the city of Trinidad to one Pedro Sanchez Farfan. I was alfo 

 acquainted with the three men; one was named Gonzalo Mexia» another 

 Juan de St. Eflevan, and the third Cafcorro. This laft mentioned had 

 married the daughter of the cacique to whofe lot he fell, and had his 

 ears and nofe bored like the Indians. 



On the fifth day of April 1 5 1 8, after having heard mafs with great 

 devotion, we fet fail, and in ten days pafTed the point of Guaniguanico, 

 called by the pilots St. Anton. In eight days more we came in fight of 

 the Ifiand of Cozumel, whither we were driven in part by the currents, 

 which forced us farther down than when we came with Cordova. 

 Coafling along the ifiand by the South, we perceived a landmg place at 

 which our captain Grijalva went on fhore with a confiderable .body 0/ 

 foldiers. The natives of an adjacent town fled at the fight of the fliips, 

 but our people found two old men who could not follow them concealed 

 in fome maize. Our interpreters, Julianillo, and Melchorejo, under- 

 ftood thefe Indians very well, for that ifiand is diflant but four leagues 

 from their native country. Gnjalva treated them well, and made them 

 fome prefents, in hopes to be thereby able to induce the inhabitants to 

 return to their tow^n, for which purpofe they were then difmiffed. 

 Some time after, an Indian girl of a good perfon and countenance joined 

 us, and addrefled us in the language of the Ifiand of Jamaica, which is 

 the fame with that of Cuba, The account flie gave of herfelf was, that 



fhe 



