Havens, Isles, and Points inPeru.
Along the Sea-Coast ofPerubelonging to the Jurisdiction ofLos Reyos, lie the following Havens, Isles and Points.
South-East from the PromontoryAguya, rises the IsleSt. Roqueout of the South-Sea,surrounded with Rocks, and abounds with Birds of prey; through the midst of it runs a River which divides the Island.
The HavenMalabrigo, ill defended against the Winds, cannot be entred by great Vessels, unless in calm Weather.
Next follow the HarborsGuanapeandSanta, where the Ships us’d to furnish themselves with Water out of a fresh River;CasuyaandGuarmay, both inhabited byPeruvians.
Near the Mouth of the RoadGuarastands a large Salt-pan, the Salt about which is found in great hard Pieces. The IslandCollaosecures the Haven beforeLima.
BehindCape Guarcolies theLobos; and not far from hence the HarborSangallan, being so commodious that theSpaniardsconsider’d a long time whether they should build the CityLos Reyoshere.
The PromontoryNascaaffords also good shelter for Ships; and the HavenHacariyields store of Refreshments. Moreover, the StreamsOconna,Camana, andQuilcadischarge their Waters into the Sea.
The HavenArequipaappears at its Mouth like a little Pool, surrounded with Mountains.
BetweenQuilcaand the RiverTamboyallalies the IsleNuli; and a little more Southward the HavenParaccaandPisca; and up in the Countrey the VillageYca, where the most and bestPeruvianWine is to be had.
Situation and Description ofLos Charcas.
Los Charcasis the farthest Countrey Southward of the Kingdom ofPeru, reaching up as far asChile, with which on the South it is border’d, having on the North,LimaandCollao; on the West,Mare del Zur; and on the East, some Countreys not yet well discover’d, which lie betwixt it and the Province ofParaguay, orDe la Plata. The Countrey is said to be in length about a hundred and fifty Leagues, measuring it directly, or in a right Line from North to South; but measuring it about along the Sea-Coast, much about two hundred: It is not very rich either in Corn or Cattel, although in some parts it wanteth not good Pasturage; but of unparalell’d Wealth, in respect of the Mines of Gold and Silver which are here digg’d, the principal whereof are those ofPotosiandParco.
The Mountains hereabouts are inhabited by theCavinas, who dwell in Stone Houses. Their Neighbors theCanchesare a subtile, good natur’d, and painful People, breed many Sheep, sowe Corn, and catch plenty of Fish out of the Rivers. Next comes in view the cold CountreyConas. On the right side towards the Southern Ocean, the great WildernessParinacochaextends it self a vast way; the Mountains round about are continually cover’d with Snow, and the Dales have many deep Moors.
Potosi.
Potosi.
Potosi.
Principal Towns and Places of note.
Chief Towns and Places of note in this part ofPeruare, 1.Plata, otherwise call’dChuquisaca, the Countrey whose Metropolis it is, situate under a temperate Climate, in a fruitful Soil for the production of all manner of Plants, and especially Wheat, Barley, and Grapes. In this City the High Court of Judicature ofLos Charcasis kept, being a principal part ofPeru, and inhabited by the richestSpaniardsin the whole Kingdom, having gotten an incredible deal of Treasure out of the neighboring Silver-Mines, which from the time of theIngas, or Kings ofPeru, to its Discovery by theSpaniards, held out and continu’d so rich, that ’tis thoughtPizarro, if Reason could have rul’d him, might here onely have rais’d himself a Rent of two hundred thousand Ducatsper Annum; but his desire and hopes, first to find more atPotosi, and afterwards his ambition and greediness to have and command all, carried him to violent Courses, which proved his Ruine, as hath been said. The Town is conveniently seated in a fruitful Soil, honor’d with the Residence of the Governor of the Province, and with a Bishops See, said to be the richest ofPeru,viz.of fourscore thousand Ducatsper Annum. The Cathedral and divers Cloysters give also a great lustre to the City. The antient Inhabitants of this Countrey, especially about those parts where now this City stands, were theCharcasandCharanques, both valiant People, who by Command of theIngasfetch’d invaluable Treasures out of the neighboring Mines ofPorco, where a thousand Men were continually kept at work. InLa Platawere reckon’d long since, besidesSpaniards, above sixty thousandPeruvianswhich pay annual Tribute.
2.Oropesa, a place of good Metal, as a man may perceive by the Name; It lieth in the rich and pleasant ValleyCochobamba, twenty Leagues distant fromLa Plata.
3.Potosi, eighteen Leagues Westward fromLa Plata, by theSpaniardscall’dThe Imperial City, built at the Foot of a Mountain bearing the same Denomination, on a barren Soil under a cold Climate, though but twenty one Degrees to the Southward of theEquinoctial Line: the Cold proceeds from the high Lands, which lie bare to the bleak and sharp Winds call’dTomohavi, which blow every year very fiercely fromMaytillSeptember. But though the barren Countrey produces no Fruit, yet no place inPeruhath greater plenty of all Provisions and Dainties than this, the Markets being always full of Fruit, Salt-Meat,Maiz,Papas, Wheat, Sugar, Sweet-meats, and all things that are requisite for the subsistence of Man-kind, which are brought thither from all parts for the Silver, which is there in such plenty. As to what concerns the famous MountainPotosiin the Countrey ofCharcas, it is of an Ash colour, and rises above the adjacent Mountains in the form of a Sugar-Loaf; on the top of it stands a Chappel, to which leads a craggy Path, which with a little care may be rid up with a Horse; the heighth thereof is a thousand six hundred and twenty four Rods, or a quarter of a League: at the Foot thereof appears the Mine call’dGuaina Potosi, that is, Theyoung Potosi; near which the CityPotosistands, being two Leagues in circumference, and is adorn’d with a Church and Cloyster for theDominicans, and exceedingly resorted to by Traders.
In the time when theIngasGovern’dPeru, the Silver-Mines atPorcowere very famous; but it was not till after the arrival of theSpaniardsthat Silver was found inGuaina Potosi, and by degrees the Silver Veins which lay hid in the greatPotosi; the manner of which Discovery was as followeth:
The occasion of the first Discovery of the Mines inPotosi.
APeruviancall’dGualpa, who work’d in the Mines atPorco, going a Hunting, it chanc’d that the Game ran up the steep Mountain ofPotosi, which prevented his pursuing of it any farther; but the Mountain being overgrown with Trees, he got hold from one Bough to another to help himself up, and at last taking hold of the Bramble call’dQuinua, he pull’d the same out of the Ground, and finding it heavy, look’d upon it, and espy’d a great lump of Silver hanging at the Root of it; whereupon viewing the Hole, he discover’d a rich Silver Vein; of which taking some pieces home, and melting them, he found that it was the best Silver that ever he had known; wherefore he privately got a greater quantity, and by degrees grew extraordinary rich: but though he carried his Design never so close, yet he was at last suspected, and especially by his NeighborGuanca, born in the ValleyXauxa, who was the more jealous of him, because he sold greater Bars of Silver than any were cast atPorco; whereupon he resolv’d to speak to him, andgetting out the Secret, it came to this Agreement between them, That they should both be Partners and share the Booty;Gualpawas to keep the Vein, since call’dThe Rich Vein, andGuancawas to have another, at present nam’dDiego Centeno: but they agreed not long; forGuancafinding much labor upon his Vein, by reason of the hardness, and that he could get no share in whatGualpagot, acquainted hisSpanishMasterVilaroelwith it, who rested not till he had found out the truth thereof; for whichVilaroelobtain’d (according to the Custom ofPorco) several Rods to work for himself, onely paying the King one fifth part of what he got, and so remain’d Owner of the MineCenteno.
The MinePotosi, when discover’d.
This Discovery of the rich MinePotosiis said to have hapned on the twenty fourth ofApril,Anno 1545.Soon after which they found the Silver VeinDel Estanno, which though it was very rich, was difficult to be digg’d, because of its hardness. The first Vein whichGualpasearch’d after stood upright from the bottom of the Mine, and contain’d above three hundred Foot in length, and thirteen in breadth, and continuing good for two hundred Foot in depth, after which the Silver begins to lessen.
ThePeruviansrelate, That theIngasfirst began to dig inPotosi, but gave it over because the Workmen heard a terrible Voice, saying,Leave off doing what you are about; the Treasures which lie hid here, are reserv’d for a People out of foreign Countreys.
These Mines produce yearly for the King’s fifth part, forty thousand Pieces of Silver, each valu’d at thirteenRyals, eachRyalbeing four Shillings, besides what he is defrauded of, which is perhaps half as much more.
The Mines ofPotosiexceed all other, because the Diggers never meet with any Water, notwithstanding they work above two hundred Fathom under Ground, whereas the other Silver Mines suffer great damage by the Water; which was also the reason why theSpaniardsleft off digging of Silver inPorco, because they were not onely forc’d to cut through hard Rocks, but ran greater danger, or at least bestow’d extraordinary labor to get out the Water which broke in upon them.
Four Silver Veins, with their several Divisions.
The four Silver Veins ofPotosi,viz.The Rich,Centeno,Del Estanno, andMendieta, lie on the East-side of the Mountain, and extend North and South. The great Veins produce lesser, not unlike the Body of a Tree, from which shoot forth several degrees of Boughs. Each Vein is divided into several parts, possess’d by several Owners; the least part is open’d four Rods, and the biggest eighty; for none are permitted by the Law to open a bigger Hole. In the time of the JesuitJoseph de Acosta, an Eye-witness, whoAnno 1587.went fromPerutoSpain, theRich Veinwas reckon’d to contain eighty seven Mines, of which some were digg’d two hundred Fathom deep. TheSpaniardsjudge that at the Root of theRich Veinis an incredible Treasure, though Experience hath hitherto taught us, that the Silver lessens in price and quantity the deeper they dig in the Ground.
TheSocabonosor Trenches, with the manner of Mining.
For the more easie working in the Mines, theSpaniardshave digg’d Trenches (which they callSocabonos) at the Foot of the Mountain towards the West, cross through the Mountain to the Mine, each of them being eight Foot broad and a Fathom deep, and lock’d up with Gates, through which the Silver is carried out, whereof the Owner of theSocabonreceives a fifth part. TheSocabonwhich leads to theRich Vein, was begunAnno 1556.and finish’d in twenty nine years, extends it self two hundred and fifty Rods in length. The Miners work by Candle-light both Day and Night by turns; those that work in the Day, sleep in the Night, and those that work in the Night, sleep in the Day. The Oar, which is as hard as a Stone, is cut out with Pick-axes, beaten in pieces with an Iron Crow, and carried upon their Backs on Ladders made of Leather: Each Ladder hath three Fastningsabout the thickness of a Cable, stretch’d out by Sticks, so that one goes up on one side, whilest another comes down on the other. Each Ladder being ten Fathom long, is pitch’d upon its several Floor on which the Laborers rest before they go up higher, for they make divers Floors according to the depth of the Mine. The Laborers carry the Oar in Bags fastned before on their Breasts, and falling back over their Shoulders three and three together, the foremost whereof ties a lighted Candle to his Thumb, and thus they help themselves with both Hands. It is a wonderful thing to consider, how thePeruviansare able to scramble up and down continually a hundred and fifty Fathom: But besides many other Inconveniences, the Mines often fall in, or at least great pieces, which bury all the Diggers. The Mines also, being excessive cold, occasion to those that are not us’d to them, aVertigoin the Head, and Vomiting. The Silver runs for the most part between two Rocks, as it were, in a long Channel, of which one side is as hard as Flint, and the other much softer. This Silver is of different value; the best, call’dCacillaorTacana, resembles Amber in colour; the worser sort is blackish, and sometimes of an Ash-colour. The pieces of Oar are carry’d on the Backs of the SheepPacosto the Mill, where being ground to Powder, they are put into Furnaces to melt; of which there were once above six thousand on the top ofPotosi; but since the Quicksilver was found to cleanse the same, not a third part remains pure.
In former times the Mines atPorco, two Leagues from the little LakeAulagas, produc’d those vast Treasures gather’d by theIngas, which afterwards for the most part fell into theSpaniardsHands.
Port-Towns, Rivers, and Havens ofLos Charcas.
As concerning the Sea-Coast ofLos Charcas, it lies as followeth: Southerly from the RiverTambopallaputs forth a three-pointed Rock into the Ocean, and makes the HavenDe Ylo, into which falls a fresh River. Next follow the round HillMorro de los Diabolos, and the Inlet before the TownArica, secur’d from all except a Westerly Wind, where the Silver that comes fromPotosiis Shipp’d forLima. Since theEnglishAdmiral SirFrancis Draketook three Barks out of this Inlet it is fortifi’d with a Castle, which is stor’d with Brass Guns.
Nine Leagues Southward thePissaquafalls into the Ocean; and next you come to the little VillageHicahic, situate on a high and barren Tract of Land; as also the HavenTerrapaca, which by an Inland is made very secure.
Not far from hence appears the Foot ofPiqua, where the Coast begins to rise very high; the Head ofTacama, the StreamLottoya, otherwise call’dDe Loa, whose Banks are inhabited by poor People; the RiverMontelo, the PromontoryMorro Moreno, beyond whose utmost Point opens a Bay, secur’d from all Winds by an Island. The Inhabitants here feed on raw Fish.
Next the RiverClarucomes in view, which is taken for a Boundary betweenPeruandChili.
Eastward up into the Countrey you come toSanta Cruiz, built at the Foot of a Mountain in a Plain near a Brook, which rushing forth from a Rock glides through the City to a Lake full of delicious Fish. The Houses of Stone, are cover’d with Palm-Tree Leaves; and besides the Church there is also a Cloyster, inhabited by the MonksDe la Merced. In former times thePeruvianHouses were built of Clay, and were often destroy’d by their Neighbors theCheriguanacsandTitanes, who made Feasts with as many as they took of them. The People about this Place are meek and poor spirited, and speak besides four Languages, theDiagnitanTongue, common amongst all of them. Before the Arrival of theSpaniardsthey went Cloth’d in Ostritches Feathers, but since taught to weave Cotton, they now make their Apparel of the same, and upon the account of Barter, drive a great Trade in it:They Dye their Cotton with the boyl’d Roots and Leaves of a little Tree.
Eastward beyondSanta Cruizlies the CountreyPaicanos, eminent for the greatCalabasheswhich grow there, exceeding good to keep both wet and dry Meats in.
The Countrey receives a vicissitude of excessive Cold and intolerable Heat; the hard Winters taking beginning inMay, and continuing till the beginning ofAugust. In the middle of our Summer a South-wind blows seven Weeks together here, to the great prejudice of all Plants, which are during that time often wash’d away by continual Rains. AboutChristmasthey Sowe, and gather in their Harvest inMarch. During the rainy Season the Ways cannot be travell’d, being all overflow’d by the Rivers; neither doth thePalm-Wood, which is four days Journey in length, permit any access to the said CitySanta Cruiz, because the conflux of Waters makes it a Moor all over; besides which, the Tygers, Bears, and Serpents, make the Ways dangerous, especially at that time.
Through this Countrey theSpanishCaptainNusco de Chavastravell’d, when he discover’d theTaguamacis, a numerous People, which dwell along the great RiverDe la Plata.
The Countrey aboutSanta Cruizproduces all manner of Fruit, but few Trees, because of the want of Rain; but Corn,Maiz, Wine,Granadillas,Luiumas, andTucumay, as also the PlantHachalindi, in theLatineTongue call’dMirabile Peruanum, grow here in great abundance; which last shoots up to the bigness of a pretty large Body, full of Juice, and of a yellowish colour, out of which shoot knotty Boughs, and about each Knot two Leaves resembling the HerbNightshade; the Flowers which hang at the ends of the Boughs are long, and pleasant to the Eye, by reason of their mixture of Purple, White, and Yellow, and also of a sweet smell. It is a strange Secret in Nature, that this Flower opens at Midnight, if any Light come near the same: The Root also is accounted an effectual Medicine against the Dropsie.
Situation and Description ofCollao.
Collaolieth Southward of those Countries, which go under the general Name of the Province ofCusco, having on the West,Lima; on the South,Charcas; but Eastward, and to the North-East, it is shut up by a Ridge of Mountains, running in one Body or continu’d Tract from the Confines ofCollao, as far as the City ofCusco, where they divide. The Countrey is generally plain, commodiously water’d in all Parts with fresh Rivers, and consequently affording rich Pasturage and good Herds of Cattel.
Chief Towns and Places of note.
The chief Towns and Places of note are, 1.Chuquinga, a great Town, and held to be naturally almost impregnable, as being environ’d round about either with deep unfordable Waters, or with Mountains unpassable, and having one onely Cawsey leading to it, reported to be for two or three Leagues together no broader than to permit one single Person to march conveniently upon it.
2. The CityPucara, which was formerly well inhabited, but at present nothing remains of it, except the ruin’d Walls of great Houses, and large Images of Stone.
3.Ayavire, by theSpaniardscall’dLas Sepulturas, being a Place especially enobled by the stately Monuments of thePeruvianNobility which were found there.
4.Hatuncolla, the Metropolis or chief Town of this Province, seated upon the Banks of the RiverCaravaya, whose Streams are very much fam’d for Gold.
CALLAO de LIMA
The RiverCaravaya, which glides from theAndesEastward to the CityJuan del Oro, produces much fine Gold, but not without the loss of many People, which are kill’d by the unwholsom Air and Damps that arise here.
The LakeTiticaca.
The LakeTiticaca, which washes the CountreyCollaoon the North, the Province ofOmasuyon the East,Chaquitoon the West, andChuquiaboon the South, is one of the greatest Lakes ofAmerica, being eighty Leagues in circumference, and in several places as many Fathom deep; wherefore it is exceeding rough in windy Weather. Into this Lake ten great Rivers discharge their Waters, which run away again through a narrow, but very deep Channel, in which the Stream runs so strong, that no Boats are able to abide in it.
5.Chinquita, a Colony ofSpaniardsupon the Banks ofTiticaca, having many small Islands in it of a good and fruitful Soil, abounding in Fish and variety of Sea-Fowl; it is suppos’d to be fourscore Leagues distant likewise from the South Sea, having onely oneEstuaryor Mouth, which is something strait, but of such a deep Water and violent Stream, that (asAcostatestifieth of it) it is not possible to build a Bridge of Stone or Timber over it; but the Natives in stead thereof have laid a Bridge of Straw upon it, which serves as well,viz.so many great Bundles of Straw, Sedge, or such like matter, well and surely made up and fastned together, as will reach from one side or Bank of theEstuaryto another; at which likewise having made them sure, they cast some good quantity of more Straw and Sedge upon them, and have a Bridge very convenient, upon which they both securely pass themselves, and also drive Cattel, and do other necessary Business. The Water is neither bitter nor brackish, yet is not drinkable because of its muddiness. Several Islands that lie in the Lake serv’d formerly for Store-houses of the chiefest Goods, which the People thereabouts living near the High-way would not trust in their Villages.
The PlantTotara.
Here grows a certain Broom-Plant call’dTotara, good for many uses, and is also wholsom Food both for Man and Beast; moreover, they cover their Houses with the same, burn it on their Hearths, and make Boats. TheUros, a salvage People, made Floats ofTotara, which they ty’d together, and built Villages on the same, which drove to and again, according as the Wind blew.
The Lake also breeds abundance of Fish, and especially two sorts,viz.Suches, which are very pleasing to the Palate, but unwholsom; and theBogas, which though less, and full of Bones, are a much better Food. There likewise breed plenty of Fowls about the same, especially wild Geese and Ducks.
When thePeruviansintend to Entertain any Person, they go to catching of Fowls (by them call’dChaco) after this manner: They make a Circle with the Floats nam’dBalsas, and Rowing close to one another, take up the inclos’d Fowl with their Hands.
Moreover, the fore-mention’d Channel, through which the LakeTiticacadischarges its Water, ends in a little Lake call’dAulagas, likewise full of desolate Isles, but hath no visible place into which to empty its Water, therefore it must needs, according to the course of Nature, fall under Ground, where it commixes with a Stream whose original is unknown, though it be seen to fall into the South Sea.
The Town is a Place of extraordinary Wealth and Trading, and so considerable, that the Governor thereof is always nam’d by the King ofSpainhimself, and his Place estimated at fifty thousand Ducatsper Annum.
6.Tiaguanaco, at theEstuary, or Mouth of the Lake, memorable onely for the Ruines of certain great and stupendious Buildings which antiently have stood there, some of the Stones whereof are said to have been of thirty Foot lengthapiece, fifteen Foot broad, and six or seven Foot thick. There were likewise found the Statues of certain Men excellently Carv’d and Wrought, of a Gigantick stature or bigness, and likewise veiled in foreign and strange Habits, not at all us’d, nor ever known to have been us’d by thePeruviansthemselves, or by any other of the Natives ofAmerica.
7.Nuestra Sennora de la Paz, orOur Lady of Peace, otherwise call’dPueblo Nuevo: It is but a small Town, yet pleasantly seated upon the Banks of a River in a fair and fruitful Plain, full of Springs, Fruit-Trees,Savanas, and Fields ofMaiz, having Mountains on either side: It lieth almost in the middle of the ProvinceChuquinabo, fourteen Leagues distant fromCusco, and as many fromPotosi. The ProvinceChuquinaboit self (which in thePeruvianTongue signifiesInheritance of Gold) hath many rich Gold-Mines, good Salt-pits, and a temperate Climate, except from the beginning ofDecembertillMarch, in which time the continual Rains cause Feavers and Agues. The Inhabitants being very poor People, us’d to go naked in the Summer Season.
8.Copavana, two and twenty Leagues beyondLopoz: It is onely inhabited byPeruvians; amongst whom an Image of the VirginMary, long since erected there, hath been ever in great veneration, especially by reason of a Tradition of a great Miracle there perform’d: for theSpaniardsaffirm, ThatJohannes Anachoretagoing a Journey of several Weeks from home, plac’d a lighted Candle before the Image, which during the time of his absence did not at all diminish.
A strange Earthquake atAngoanga.
An Accident which fell out in this Countrey is very remarkable,viz.The Ground of an old Village call’dAngoanga, then inhabited by eminent Necromancers, began on a sudden to swell, and the Earth to run like a broken Wave two Leagues, overwhelming the Houses in Sand, and filling up a neighboring Lake.
The like inHerefordshireinEngland.
Eight years before this terrible Earthquake here, there hapned in the County ofHerefordinEnglandalmost the same kind of prodigious Motion: for not far from the TownLedborough, aroseMarcely Hillto an exceeding heighth, and moving along bury’d all whate’re it met with, after which manner it continu’d for the space of three days, to the great terror of all that beheld it.
9.Chilane; 10.Acos; 11.Pomata, and some others, all of them good Towns, but not so considerable as those other.
Roads and High-ways made by theIngas.
Concerning the Roads or High-ways, it may well be said, That none of the seven Wonders of the World can compare with any one of them; neither was the Way thatAppius Claudiusmade fromRometoBrundusium, upon the repairing of which the EmperorsJuliusandAugustusspent great sums of Money, fit to stand in competition with the Roads made by theIngasinPeru: for who cannot but admire at the consideration of so many Valleys fill’d with Mountains, the hardest Rocks cut asunder, Moors damm’d up, great Stone Bridges laid over swift gliding Streams, and through vast Wildernesses a Way made of twenty Foot broad, inclos’d in high Walls, extending fromQuitotoChilo, a thousand Leagues, and at the end of every ten Leagues brave Houses or Magazines, stor’d with Bowes, Arrows, Halberds, Axes, Clubs, Clothes, and Provision for twenty or thirty thousand Men. Some relate, thatGuainacava, when he return’d Victor from the conquer’d CountreyQuito, suffer’d great Inconveniences on the pathless Mountains, and thereupon Commanded his Subjects to make the fore-mention’d Way. But it is more probable, that this Master-piece was not the work of oneInga, especially since besides the Way fromChilitoQuitothere leads another through the Mountains over the Plains fromCuscotoQuito, forty Foot broad, and five hundred Leagues long, inclos’d within two Walls.
The manner of thePeruvianRegisters.
ThePeruviansrelate from the testimony of theQuipos, much more concerning these High-Ways, and other Buildings on them, made byGuainacava. TheseQuiposare Rowls of divers colour’d Strings, full of all manner of Knots, which serve in stead of Characters to keep their Chronicles; in which were employ’d theQuipo-Camayos, who being in the nature of our Secretaries, Registred all Transactions, performing the same with the several Strings and Buttons, with which they gave Obligations, Discharges, and the like: but besides theQuiposthey also us’d Rings full of little Stones for the same purpose; and knew withMaiz-Seed how to cast up an Account as well as the best Arithmetician with Figures.
Their Account of Time hung on the twelve PillarsSuccanga, erected on a Mountain beyondCuscoby the IngaPachacuma, that is,The Regulator of the Year, to shew the Course of the Sun, and according to that their appointed Feast-days, times of Sowing and Harvest: Their Year begins inDecember.
The present State ofPeruunder theSpanishGovernment.
TheSpanishGovernment in the Kingdom ofPeruis setled at present in great tranquility and splendor. The Vice-Roy, who keeps a splendid Court inLima, otherwise call’dLos Reyos, Commands overChiliandTerra Firma, and never comes abroad without a Guard of forty Halberdeers: when he travels by Land he is accompanied by the Arch-bishop, and guarded by his forty Halberdeers, a hundred Pike-men, and fifty Musquetteers. His Reign is generally not above six or eight years, during which time he receives forty thousand Ducatsper Annumout of the King’s Exchequer.
The present flourishing Condition of the CityLos Reyos.
The CityLos Reyoshath been of late years very much enlarg’d and brought to a most flourishing Condition, being exceeding populous, and extending four Miles in length, and half as much in breadth: In the biggest Market-place is the City Hall and the Exchange, where all things are brought to be sold. Of the other three Markets, two have their Denominations fromSt. AnneandSt. Jacob; the fourth is call’dEl Santo de los Cavallos, because nothing but Mules, Asses, and Horses are sold there. The chief Church is Consecrated toSt. Johnthe Evangelist; the other Three toMarcellus,Sebastian, andAnna. TheFranciscansinhabit three Cloysters; theDominicans,Augustines, and MonksDe la Merced, each of them two, besides two costly Structures for theJesuits. Other Orders have also five Cloysters here,viz.theCreation,Conception, theHoly Trinity,St. Joseph, andSt. Clara; the three first have each of them a Church built hard by the several Cloysters, Dedicated to theSantas Virgines del Montserratto,Del Prado, andDe Loretto. Each Cloyster contains above two hundred and fifty either Monks or Nuns. Here are also four large Hospitals, the chiefest whereof call’dAndrias, hath seldom less than four hundred Sick, which are kept and cur’d on Charity. The second is forPeruviansonely, call’dThe Hospital of St. Anna. The third, built in honor of the ApostleSt. Peter, is for poor old Clergy-men. The fourth, nam’dThe House of Love, is for sick Women. Besides these there stands another Structure near the Walls of the City, Consecrated toLazarus, where those that have the Leprosie are cur’d. The House call’dThe Holy-Ghost, receives all sick and wounded Sea-men. The King maintains twenty four Students at his own Charge in the Royal Colledge, and the Arch-bishop as many in the Colledge call’dSt. Toronius; but in the Colledge ofSt. Martinreside above six hundred, which are brought up in all manner of Arts and Sciences. Two hundred Students are also taught in the high School, where they chuse a new Governor every year. Here also is kept the King’s Treasure, and the Court of Inquisition. The River which washes the City Walls runs so exceeding swift, that not long since it carried away a new Stone Bridge with nine great Arches.
Miracles reported to have been done byRamirez.
TheDominicanMonks were the first that Landed onPeru, the first which camethither withFrancisco PizarrobeingVincent de Valle Verde, who was follow’d bySancio Martino,Martino de Esquivele,Dominico de Sancto Thoma,Pedro Ulloa,Alphonso de Montenegro,Reynaldo Pedraza, and many others, who were stirr’d up by the report of thePeruvianRiches; amongst whom were fourFranciscans, viz.Pedro Portuguese,Jodoco de los Angelos,De la Cruiz, andDe Sant Anna, who were soon after follow’d by twelve Monks of theAugustineOrder.Anno 1552.Landed also atLos Reyos, ColonelAndreas Salazar, accompanied withAntonio Lozano,Juan de Sancto Petro,Hieronymo Melendez,Didaco Palamino,Pedro de Espeda,Andreas Ortega,Juan Canto,Juan Chamorro,Francisco de Treyas,Juan Ramirez, andBalthazar Melgarego.Salazarsoon after his Arrival sent the PriestJuan Ramirez, andBalthazar MelganegotoGuamachuco, where he Baptiz’d and Instructed the Inhabitants in great numbers. Afterwards travelling toMoyabamba, he got a great esteem amongst those Idolaters, and (as it goes for currant amongst them) wrought many Miracles, amongst which this is reported for one: He being inform’d by an oldPeruvian, that his Daughter nam’dCurihad hid several Idols; enquiring after it, he tax’d her with what her Father had told him; which she denying, and being rebuk’d byRamirez, is said to have become immediately dumb, to have foam’d at the Mouth, at last falling down dead like a secondSaphirain the presence of many, which caus’d many to forsake their Idolatry. But the Necromancers endeavor’d by all means possible to raise a disesteem onRamirez, and with the assistance of their Master the Devil, so wrought their Inchantments, that the Tygers came in great Herds out of the Wildernesses toMoyabamba, and devour’d not onely Men, Women and Children in the Highways, but also tore them out of their Houses, yet did not the least hurt to anySpaniard; whereuponRamirezvaliantly went with a Company of his Proselytes to a Herd of Tygers, which when he approached held the Cross to them, which it seems so affrighted the Devil-Tygers, that they climb’d up the Trees. They farther relate (if you will believe them) to make the Miracle the greater, ThatRamirezcall’d to the Multitude, saying,Go and revenge the Deaths of your devour’d Parents, Children and Relations; whereupon he throwing a Stone, and all the rest following his Example, the Tygers leap’d out of the Trees, stood still, and suffer’d themselves to be kill’d like Lambs. Six years after the fore-mention’d twelveAugustineMonks follow’d eleven others, who set Sail out of theSpanishHavenSt. Lucar, and arriving atPeruwent to the VillageTauca, where they broke the Image of the GoddessHuarella, being as it were thePeruvian Venus, or Patroness of amorous Delights, reported to have given Responses from the Wood in which she was worshipp’d. They also destroy’d the IdolChancain the CountreyConchucos, which being worshipp’d by theIndiansin the shape of a Man, had yearly a fair Maid, aged fourteen years, given to him in Marriage, a solemn Wedding being kept, and several Sheep kill’d.
The Miracle of anAugustineMonk.
TheAugustineMonks are believ’d to have wrought also another Miracle in the ProvinceConchucos, upon this occasion: A Conjurer call’dChaumango, boasted himself to beGod, deny’d ourSaviour, in testimony whereof he gave out that he would kick a Mountain to pieces, with his Foot; which Report spreading all over the Countrey, all the adjacent People flock’d to see this strange Wonder on an appointed Day, on whichCharimangobeing, it seems, as good as his word, and kicking the Mountain, caus’d it to rent from the top to the bottom, and the pieces to flie all about the People, who were exceedingly amaz’d; but the Sorcerer upon theAugustineMonk’s rebuking him was (as they affirm) immediately eaten up with Worms.
CHILI
Many other Stories of Miracles go currant amongst them, as ofMarco GarciaandDidaco Ortezdriving the Devil from a white Stone which hung over a Fountain inChiquipalpa, and several others, but it would be very impertinent to dwell too long upon Discourses of this nature, especially since we are not oblig’d to make them a part of our Creed.
To conclude our Description of this famous Kingdom ofPeru, the People thereof at theSpaniardsfirst Arrival viewing their Shipping, their Guns, and other Accoutrements, unknown to them before, had them in great admiration, as Men descended from Heaven; but when they began to be oppress’d by their Tyranny, and to be tortur’d by them, they look’d upon them as the Spawn of Hell, and curs’d the Sea that had brought so wicked a People to them.