The RiverDe la Plata, by the Natives call’dParanaguazu, is next to the River of theAmazones, the greatest in the World, and falls into the Northern Ocean between the CapesAntonioandMaria, lying thirty Leagues one from another: It receives from East and West divers Rivers as far as the LakeXarays, lying three hundred Leagues up in the Countrey from the Mouth ofLa Plata. Also into the fore-mention’d Lake fall several Streams, which spring out of thePeruvianMountainsAndes.
The first that Sail’d into this great River,Anno 1515.to an Island lying in the middle of it, wasJohn Dias de Solis, who rashly going ashore, was kill’d and eaten, together with severalPortugueses.
Sebastian Gabottushis Expedition.
Eleven years after this Accident,Sebastian Gabottusset Sail fromSpainto go to the Spicy Islands through the Straights ofMagellan, but was forc’d, for want of Provisions, and the unwillingness of his Seamen, to put into the RiverLa Plata; in which being advanc’d thirty Leagues, he Anchor’d near an Island, which he call’dSt. Gabriel: from whence going seven farther, he discover’d a Stream which fell intoLa Plata. This River he call’dSt. Salvador, and cast up a Fort at the Mouth of it, where an Inlet afforded a convenient Harbor for Shipping; he found the RiverLa Platato be generally ten Leagues broad, and full of Isles; and to the Westward of it, the RiverZaracaranna, inhabited on the South side by a subtil People call’dDiagnitas. At the place whereZaracarannadisembogues intoLa Platahe built a Castle, and calling the sameCastello di Santo Spirito, went up farther, leaving on the West side the PeopleTenbues,Mequaretas,Mepenes, andAigais; to the Eastward, theQuiloacasandSantana, and struck up out of the RiverLa Plata, North-East intothe StreamParana, in which he had gone, two hundred Leagues, and pass’d by many Isles, when he went out of the same into the StreamParaguay; where being set upon by the Countrey People, who were busie in Tilling the Ground, he lost so many of his Men, that he was forc’d, without any farther Exploit, to return with thePortuguesePilot,Diego Garcia, who Sailing up the same River, had met withGabottusinParia; and because both had gotten some Silver, they call’d the River, from that Metal,De la Plata. The farther Discovery whereof lay neglected nine years after, whenPeter MendozaSailing with eleven Ships, carrying eight hundred Men, to the IslandGabriel, built the FortBuenos Ayres, on the South side of it, where many People dying of Hunger, little was done.
Alvares Cabecanot long after followingMendoza’s footsteps, discover’d and peopled the ProvinceRio de la Plata. The Mouth of the RiverLa PlataLaurence Bikkerdescribes thus:
Laurence Bikker’s Description ofRio de la Plata.
“Beyond the CapeSanta Maria(saith he) lies the flat IslandCastilhos, having scarce a Tree upon it; but on the North side a Rock, not unlike a decay’d Castle; to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs; directly before the Mouth lies the stonie IslandDe Lobos, on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves; towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River, known by the breaking of the Water upon the same.”
The PromontoryMariais low and barren, but within the same the Land rises high before the IslesFloresandMaldonado, which last hath a good sandy Shore, Harbor, and fresh Water between the Rocks; butFloresrising with two Hills, produces nothing but Brambles.
The StreamSolisalso discharges its Waters inLa Plata, near the Place where the MountainSeredolies.
The left Shore ofLa Platabegins at the PromontoryAntonio, and is cut through by the RiversOrtisandLos Sanctos, where the TownBuenos Ayresis built on a smooth Shore.
Martin del Barco’s Description of the same.
Martin del Barcoproceeding in the Description ofLa Plata, saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same. The Isles in the River are as followeth: those that bear the Name ofSt. Gabrielare five in number;GarciaIsle is full of Trees, and for its fertility was peopled byPeter de Mendoza, and afterwards byJuan Ortiz Carate: But less fruitful are the IslesDe Lazaro, where the RiverVraygunites withLa Plata, being before fill’d with the Waters ofSalvador, which receives the black StreamNegro, which gliding slowly from Morasses, is very full of Fish. Moreover,La Platahath eleven Arms, each very deep and full of Isles, inhabited by theGuaranins.
About a hundred Leagues farther theCherandieshave setled themselves on pleasant Isles, lying not far from the CitySt. Fe, built on the Point which makes the RiverBermeio, where it falls intoLa Plata.
Farther up lies the ProvinceAna, partly well inhabited for its fertility, and partly overflow’d.
Next appears the RockPennapobre, and not far from the TownGuayra,La Platafalls very high from the Rocks.
The several People of this Countrey.
But as concerning the Natives of this Countrey, it is inhabited by divers sorts of People, differing from one another both in Customs and Language. On the South side of the fore-mention’d River, from the PromontoryAntoniotoBuenos Ayres, dwell theQuirandies, a stout, but cruel People, who with the Flesh of many aSpaniardoftentimes keep a merry Feast. Farther into the Countrey run theJuriesandDiagnitas. AlongLa Platalie also scatter’d theTenbues, a civil People, who liveby Fishing. Near the RiverParaguaytheAmeguaesobserve the same manner of Life; But theCarioeskeep Cattel, and Till their Lands. A hundred Leagues farther dwell thePayaguaes; and yet farther into the Countrey theChamesandCarcarespossess much Gold and Silver, with whichJuan d’ Ayolahaving enrich’d himself here, was destroy’d with all his Men by theChames, Anno 1541.
Nunnez Cabecahis Journey.
Alvarez Nunnez Cabecacame fromSpainto be Governor here, but was not able, by reason of contrary Winds and Tydes to reachLa Plata; wherefore Landing at the RiverItabucu, and spending nine days in cutting a Way through thick Brambles, he came to the Jurisdiction ofArmiriri, and a days Journey farther toCipoyay; and not long after toTocanguazu, where theGuaranies, who are the Natives, have two Harvests every year ofMaizandCassavi, and breed and keep Geese, Hens and Parrots in their Houses: They are Man-eaters, and very revengeful.Cabecahaving given this Countrey the Name ofVera, he proceeded on his Journey over the RiversIgnazu,Tibagi, andTaquari, on whose Shore appears the VillageAbangobi, and somewhat fartherTocanguzir. The Countrey hereabouts is very fruitful, and hath many delightful Plains, pleasant Rivers, and Woods; but beyond appear Hills, Mountains, deep Morasses, dangerous Cane-Fields, Receptacles for wild Beasts, and great Wildernesses.Cabecahaving pass’d through them all, came into the fruitful Countrey of theGuaranies, who are a wild People, and possess many large Fields ofMaizandPotato’s, also several Silver Mines. From hence travelling Westwardly over the RiverPiqueri, he spent eighteen days before he came to the StreamIgnazu, which falls into theParana, and at last came to the RiverParaguay; along whose Shore he found a People of a gigantick Stature, call’dThe Agazes, who regarded no manner of Husbandry, but went out continually a robbing in theirCanoos. These People, asMartin del Barcorelates, were not long after all destroy’d by theSpaniards.
Not far from theAgazesdwell theGuaycurues, a valiant People; and somewhat farther theCacoves, whose Countrey produces Gold and Silver; and yet farther in the Countrey reside theGuaxarapos, who remove yearly to theParaguayto Fish there when the Water is low; for in the beginning ofJanuarythe River swells so exceedingly, that the Countrey about it being overflow’d, is cover’d with above six Fathom Water. TheParaguaydischarges its Waters into the great LakeXarayes, full of Islands.
Amongst other Rivers that spring out of the MountainsAndes, theIgnazu, along whose Shore the PeopleXacoaes,Xaquesses, andChanessesdwell, falls also into the foremention’d Lake. Somewhat farther lies a great piece of drown’d Land, beyond which theXarayeshave convenient Habitations, plantMaiz, and spin Cotton: Their Countrey borders a great Wilderness, which ends about the ProvinceTapuaguazu, the Inhabitants whereof, call’dTarapecocies, are furnish’d with plenty of all sorts of Provisions. ThePayzunoes, dwelling on one side of them, are not well known as yet.
Beyond the TownAssumptiondwell theMayaes, in the Way toPeru, and border at theTamacoaes, both which possess Silver-Mines.
BetweenBuenos AyresandCordubalies the Plain-CountreyDespoplado, ninety Leagues long, without Trees or Houses, but is most Pasture-Ground, which feed many thousands of wild Horses. From hence glide the StreamsLuchan,Los Arrechivos,Arreca,Zaracaranna, and others, intoLa Plata. It is very dangerous for a small Company to travel through this Countrey, because the rangingFuriesspare none alive they meet with.
Moreover, the RiverGrandeflows with a wide Mouth into the Sea, and spreadsit self within against the CountreyPatos. Also the RiversTamandabug,Ararungo, and the LakeAlagoa, disembogue into the Ocean.
North-East beyondAlagoalie the IslandsCatharinaandGale; and in the BayTojuquaappear several Isles.
The StreamsTajahuandYtabucaspring out of high Mountains, inhabited by the PeopleAnniririandCipopoy.
Lastly, the Countrey wash’d by the StreamArarapira, produces all sorts of Provisions.