Guatimala. MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN 45 



which the Hifpaniola Indians call Hibueras j and the firft difcoverers, feeing 

 many of them float along the coaft, called, it Golfe de Hibueras ^ and the pro- 

 vince itfelf Hibuera : yet afterwards, finding very deep water at the great 

 cape of this coantry, they called it Cabo de Hondurasy i. e. the promontory 

 of the depth, and the country itfelf Honduras. The vineyards bear twice a 

 year ; for immediately after the vintage, the vines are cut again, and the 

 fecond grapes are ripe before Chrijimas. The ancient inhabitants, being 

 extremely llothful, fovv^ed fo fparingly, that they were often in want, and 

 forced to feed on roots, and even on vermin and carrion. The country was 

 once exceeding populous, till it was thinned by the Spaniards. The natives, 

 inflead of a plough, ufe a long pole with two crooked ftaves at the end ; the 

 one bent downwards, the other upwards. The eaft part of this province is 

 poffefied by the Mofquitos, which we (liall here defcribe. 



The MusQui Tos is a fmall nation of Indians, never conquered by the Spa^ 

 Tiiards ; the country being fo fituated as to render any attempts againft them 

 impraflicable : for they are furrounded on all fides by land with moraffes, or 

 inacceffiblc mountains ; and by fea with (hoals and rocks ; befides they have 

 fuch an implacable hatred to the Spaniards, for their inhumanity and cruelty 

 in deftroying many millions of their neighbours, that they would never have 

 any correfpondence with them ; for whenever they fent any mifiionarics, or 

 other agents, amongft them, they conftantly hide them, /. e. put them to 

 death. They call the Spaniards in derifion, little breeches, and reproach the 

 Englijl:) with folly in releafing them when taken prifoners of war. 



Notwithflanding this, they are a mild inoffenfwe people, of much morality 

 and virtue, and will never truft a man who hath once deceived them, or for- 

 feited his word. 



None of them have more than one wife, with whom they never part, un- 

 lefs for adultery, which is very feldom known amongft them •, and fo great 

 a regard is fhewn to thofe who are married, that precedence is always given 

 to them, even from the elder to the younger, if the latter happens to be 

 married and the other is not. 



They 



