Though the Province ofZunyabove-mention’d in the Chapter ofNew Mexico, in the Voyage ofEspejus, be there otherwise call’d, and appear to be the same withCibola, yet we find it not treated of by any as part ofNew Mexico, but by some as a distinct Province, by others as a part ofCalifornialargely taken; for besides thatCalifornia, properly so call’d, hath formerly been taken rather for aPeninsulathan an Island, and still affords to some an Argument of question, whether it be one or the other. The whole extent of the Province generally so term’d, hath been reputed to comprehend the suppos’dPeninsulait self,Cibola,Quivira, andNova Albion; but since, according to the best Maps and Discoveries, there seems little doubt to be made, thatCalifornia, strictly taken, is a perfect Island: and since upon that Consideration we have reserved it to be describ’d amongst the Islands ofNorthern America, we also consequently judge it most requisite to consider those Countreys apart that were included in the extendedCalifornia.
Situation, Temperature, and Productions ofCibola.
Cibolalieth Southward ofQuivira, betwixt it andNew Gallicia, to the North and East: on the West it hathMar Vermiglio, or the Bay ofCalifornia. The Air of the Province is indifferently temperate, especially if compar’d to the sharp Frosts and Colds ofQuivira. The Countrey is for the most part level and plain, asQuivirais, having but few Trees in it, except here and there some Woods of Cedars, which yet do abundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fewel. The Ground affords plenty ofMaiz, and some small white Pease, of both which they usually make Bread. There is great store of Venison, and a kind of Sheep (as they say, and as it should seem by their Fleece) as big as some little Horses or Oxen, some of their Horns weighing forty or fifty Pound: But perhaps by some mistake of Authors, this Beast may be no other thanTaurus Mexicanus, elsewhere describ’d, whose Hair is extreamly thick and shaggy, and of which they make Cloth as of Wool, as hath been said. There are also Lyons, Bears, and Tygers in this Province, in such numbers, that the People of the Countrey are not a little troubled with them, and would gladly destroy them if they knew how. The People are generally well Limb’d, tall of Stature, and seem to be a little more Ingenious than their Neighbors ofQuivira; yet they go naked many of them, onely cover’d with Mantles made of Skins, which are many times painted, and that with such Curiosity and Art, as do sufficiently argue, that neither themselves nor their Neighbors ofQuivira, from whom they have them in Traffick, do make them, but that they are the Merchandise and Commodity of some other Nations, perhaps ofCathayorChina, who, by the North-West Seas, do Trade with the Maritime Parts, and People ofQuivira.
This part of the Countrey hath been reasonably well search’d by theSpaniards, but as yet nothing discover’d so considerable, as to perswade them to stay in it.
That which seems most observable, is the great LakeTonteac, situate almost in the midst of the Province; upon which, or near unto it, they found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives, some whereof contain’d four or five hundred of their Cottages or little Houses, and were fortifi’d also with Ramparts, and other Works of Defence, so as theSpaniardscould not become Masters of them, but by Force and Storming: In the attempt whereofVasquez Coronado, their Commander in chief, was twice beaten down with Stones by the Natives; yet at last carrying the Place, he found in it good plenty ofMaizindeed, which was some refreshment to his Army, but nothing else: whereupon having nam’d the PlaceGranada, in memory of the Vice-Roy ofNew Spain, who sent him upon that Expedition, he departed. In his return homeward he fell upon a certain Countrey, which he nam’dTucayan, of which his Companions report great matters; as first, of a certain River call’dHuex, on the Banks whereof, in the space of twenty Leagues, or thereabouts, there stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs, well built, and furnish’d likewise with Stoves or Hot-houses, against the Cold, as in other Countreys ofEurope; as also of a very fruitful and pleasant Valley, which they therefore call’dAroba de Corazones; of another great Town and Territory, call’dChichilticala; and lastly, of the Valley ofNuestra Sennora, orOur Ladies Dale, in the South parts of the said Territory, all of them describ’d for such rich and delicious Places, that some take them for theCampi ElisiiofAmerica, especially seeing theSpaniardswere never known to visit them a second time, the Discoveries that have been made since being onely of the North-West Parts of the Countrey, along the Coasts ofMar Vermiglio, and this no farther than onely to give Name to certain Capes or Promontories which they met with, as namely 1.Porto de St. Clara, near to the Mouth of the River which they callRio del Nordt. 2.Las Playas.3.St. Michael.4.Lago del Oro, which bordereth onQuivira; and lastly,El Rey Coronado, Eastward of that.
Tontonteac.
Tontonteacis mention’d by so few, and by those few so obscurely, that it cannot well be determin’d to be any other than that Countrey which lies about the great LakeTonteac, above spoken of inCibola, and which being made Habitable by six or seven Towns not inconsiderable for Habitations of nativeIndians, might haply pass for a distinct Province. And perhaps the reason why this Province hath been so obscure, and little taken notice of, might be from the ruine of these Towns by War, or some other Accident: and to this purpose are the words of a late Writer,The Province ofTontonteac (saith he)hath five Houses onely left, which stand on the Shore of a salt Lake.
Nova Granadaa Province ofNorthern America.
Nova Granada, besides that it is a generally known and describ’d Province ofSouthern America, is also nam’d amongst the Provinces ofNorthern America, particularly byBertius,Cluverius, andGolnitzius, and in some late Maps ofAmericaso conspicuously specifi’d, that it might appear to be all that Tract of Land which contains bothNew Mexicoand the several Provinces adjoyning to it; but since we find it not describ’d by any at large, it will with most verisimility pass for that part ofNew Mexicowhere stands the City ofSt. Foy; and this is most plainly express’d by MonsieurMartini, though there are who confoundCibolawithNew Granada. Waving which Decision, we shall onely insert a short Description of the Place, according toCornato, who seems to have been one of the first Discoverers of these Parts, and whose Credit is preferr’d before that ofMarcus de Niza.
Its Description.
Nova Granada(saith he) consists of seven Villages, built in the circumference of four Leagues, the chiefest whereof boasts two hundred Houses, which for the most part are four or five Stories high, and built of Stone; the Cellars thereto belonging, being neatly Pav’d, serve for Stoves against the Cold: they ascend to their upper Rooms by Ladders. The Inhabitants go naked, onely some Covering about their Middle, and over their Shoulders Cotton Cloaks, painted with divers Colours. They live onMaiz, white Pease, Hares, Rabbets, and Venison: their Salt wherewith they season the same, they fetch from a neighboring Lake. The Turkies, which they have in great numbers, are kill’d onely for their Feathers, notwithstanding their Flesh is exceeding good Meat. The Soil is for the most part plain, yet hath some high Mountains; and the Pastures flourish with Grass. The Woods abound with Bears, Tygers, Lyons, wild Hogs, Rhinocerots, and the like ravenous Beasts, which make the Ways dangerous for Travellers. Besides large Deer, there are also Sheep, which in bigness may compare with Horses, having exceeding great Horns, and little Tails.
Concerning the abundance ofTurkoises, of whichNizamakes mention,Cornatocould give no certain account, because a little before his Arrival theGranadianshad convey’d their Children, which were under fifteen, and the aged People, who were above sixty years of age, with their chiefest Goods, into remote places. However, it is not unknown, that this Countrey affordsTurkoises; forCornatoin his Journey toQuivira, Besieg’d a City in these Parts near a great River; the Inhabitants whereof, when they were not able to defend themselves any longer, throwing their Cloaks,Turkoises, and other Riches into the Fire, Sallied out upon theSpaniards, and died not altogether unreveng’d, as shall be specifi’d more at large in the Description ofTignes, which being nam’d among the Towns ofQuivira, will upon the comparing of Circumstances, be apparently found to be the same with this.
Lastly,New Granadahath no Fruit-Trees, but little Cedars fit for Building.