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AN
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ACCOUNT
OF THE
European Settlements
I N
AMERICA.
In Six Parts.
I. A ihort Hiftory of the Dif- covery of that Part of the World.
II. The Manner^ and Cuftoms of the original Inhabitants.
III. Of the Spanifh Settlements.
IV. Of the Portuguefe.
V. Of the French, Dutch, and Danifh.
VI. Of the Englifli.
Each Part contains
An accurate Defcription of the Settlements in it, their Extent, Climate, Produdions, Trade, Genius and Difpofition of their Inhabitants : the Intereftsof the fevcral Powers of Europe with rcfpedl to thofe Settlements ; and their Political and Commercial Views with regard to each other.
In TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.
The SEroND Edition, with Improvements,
LONDON:
Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall.
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T H E
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4 PREFACE.
<T^HE affairs tf Americd have lately en^
gaged a great deal of the public attention.
Before the prefent war there ivere but a 'very
few who made the hijiory of that quarter of
the world any part of their Jludy \ though the
matter is certainly very curious i?2 itfelf and
extremely inter efting to us as a trading people.
The hijiory of a country which ^ though vajl
in extent y is the property of only four natioyis 5
and which y though peopled probably for aferiei
of ages y ts only known to the reft of the world
for about two centuries^ does not naturally a-f^
jord matter for many volumes, Tet it is cer-^
tain^ tijat to acquire a proper knowledge of the
hiftory of the events in America^ an idea of
its prefent ftate^ and a competent judgment
gf its tradcy a great deal of reading has
been found requijite. And I may add, that
the reading on many parts of this fubjeSf is
dry and difgujiing 5 that authors have treated
A 2
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Jhe PREFACE.
en it,fome without afufficient knowledge of the fubjeSfy and others in fuch a manner as no knowledge ofthefubjedi in the author could in- duce any body to become readers, Hhat fome are loaded with a lumber of matter that can ifztereft very few, and that others ohfcure the truth in many particulars, to gratify the low prejudices of parties, and I may fay of nations. Whatever is written by the Englijh fettled in our colo- nies, is to be read with great caution \ becaufe very few of them write without a bias to the intere/i of the particular province to which they belong, or perhaps to a particular faSiion in that province. It is only by comparing the printed accounts with one another^ and thofe with the beji private informations, andcorreSi'- ing all by authentic matter of record, that one can difcover the truth ; and this hath been a matter of fome difficulty, . ^ ' v =^^
With regard to the foreign fettlementSy re^ courfe was had to the bejl printed accounts of travellers and others 5 and in fome points to private information from intelligent traders. ? The
10
.'1'
The PREFACE.
The materials for the Joreign fettlements are far from being as perfedl^ or as much to he depended upon as we could wi/h ; it was very feldom that I could venture to tranfcribe any thing direBlyfrom them without fome addition cr fome correSlive,
In the hiflorical part of this work, I fxed my eye principally on fome capital matter Sy which might the moft fully engage and hefi reward the attention of the reader 5 and in treating of thofe I dwelt only upon ftich events as feemed to me to afford fome political injlruc- tion, or to open the charaSfers of the principal aSiors in thofe great fcenes. The affairs which feemed moft worthy of an account of any lengthy are thofe fplendid and remarkable events of the difcovery of America, and the conquejl of the only two civilized kingdoms it contained,
. In treating of other parts, I have given fo much of the hiftory of each country as may ferve pjkew, when and upon what principles it was planted, to enable the reader the better to judge
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The PREFACE.
of its prefent condition* 7hefe accounts are very JJ:ort -y and conjidering of what fort of matter fiich bifiories are compofed^ I believe 1 Jhall defervc as much for what I have omitted^ as for ivhat I have inferted. If I could not write well upon any fubjedl^ I have endeavoured always to write concifely.
My principal view in treating of the feve» ralfettlements, was to draw every thing towards their trade y which is the point that Concerns us the moft materially j for which reafon I have but little confdered their civile etnd yet lefs their natural hiftory^ further than as they tended to throw fome light upon the commerce of thefe countries 5 except where the matters were very curious ^ and ferved to diverfify the work.
It is not to be expected that a performance of this kind can be written equally throughout. In fome places the fubjedl refufes all ornament ; and the matter^ dry in itfelf is by no art to be made otherwife : in fome a contagion commu* nicated from the dulnefs of materials, which
yet
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yet ap
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The PREFACE.
y€t nvere necejjary to the ivorky may probably appear ; in many, and perhaps the moft blame- able partSy the author alone muji be anf-wer-- able, ^ .
Having fpoken perhaps a little too hardly of my materials^ 1 muji except the ajjijiance I have had f ram the judicious colleclion called Harris s voyages, There are not many finer pieces than the hiflory of Brazil in that coU leBion ; the light in 'which the author fets the evefits in that hi [lory is fine and injiru5live % an uncommon fpirit prevails thr-ctigh it ; a?2d his remarks are every where firihng and deep, "the Uttlejketch I have given in the part of Fertile guefe America^ if it has any merit, it is entire^ ly due to that original. However the acccunts given of many things in that part cf his work which relates to the Englijlj a7id French fettlements may be defeSiive, ana fuited ra- ther td the ancient than to the prefent flate of a fairs ' in that part of the world : his remarks have rarely this fault ; and where I differ from him in any refpeB, it is with defe-
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The PREFACE.
rence to the judgment of a writer to whom this nation is much obliged, for endeavouring every where with fo much good fenfe and elo^ quence to roufe that fpirit of generous entcr^ prize, that can alone make any nation powerful or glorious.
A N
AN
ACCOUNT
OF THE
EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
IN
AMERICA.
VOL. I.
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PART I.
7X^ difcovery of Americay and the reduEiion of Mexico and Peru.
^%
CHAP, I.
" The (late of Europe before the difcovery of America, ^he frojeSl of Columbus, His ap- plication to feveral courts. His fuccefsful application to that of Spain, His voyage. The difcovery of the Bahamas ^ and Greater Antilles,
iHERE was an extraordinary
coincidence of events at the
time that the difcovery of A-
merica made one of the prin-
^ cipal; the invention of printing,
the making of gunpowder,
the improvement of navigation, the revival
of ancient learning, and the reformation; all
of thefe confpired to change the face of
Europe entirely.. At this time the principal
monarchies began to knit, and to acquire
the ftrength, and take the form they have
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4 An Account gJ the European
at this day. Before this period the manners of Europe were wholly barbarous j even in Italy, where the natural mildnefs of the climate, and the dawning of literature had a little foftened the minds of the people, and introduced fomething approaching towarc^s politenefs, the hiftory preceding thjs sra^^ and indeed for fome time after it, is nothing but pne feries of trcafons, ufurpations, murders j and maffacres: nothing of a manly courage> nothing of a folid and rational policy. Scarce any flate had then very extenfive views, or looked much further than to the prefent adr vantage. They did not well comprehend the complicated fyftem of intcreftsthat Europe formed even long before this. Lewis the eleventh, who was looked upon as one of the wifeft princes in his time, and one who facrificed every thing to his ambition, facri- ficed one of the faireft objedts of that am- bition to a pique, which fince his time could have little influence on the counfpls of any prince. His fon, Charles the eighth, as he won Italy without either courage or conduct, fo he loft it by a chain of falfe meafures, fuch as we may venture to fay has no pa- rallel in later times. A wild romantic courage in the Northern and Weftern parts of Europe, and a wicked policy in the Ita- lian ftates, was the charadter of that age. If wc look into th? manners of the ccurt§,
there
iners m in
the lad a
and varc^s , and gbut rdersj irage, icarce ^s, or It ad- icjthe urope is the ►ne of 5 who facri- t am- could )f any as he idud:, fures,
10 pa- nantic parts e Ica- ?. If LLirt§, there
Settl£M£nt8 in America. 5
there appear but very faint marks of culti- vation and politenefs. The interview between ^ our Edward the fourth and his brother of France, virherein they were both caged up like wild beads, Chews difpofitions very I remote from a true fenfe of honour, froni ' the dignity of their ftation, or any jufl ideas of politenefs and humanity. All the anec- dotes v^^hich remain of thefe and other courts, are in the fame fpirit.
If the courts had made fuch poor ad- vances in policy and politenefs, which might feem the natural growth of courts at any dme, both the courts and the people were yet iefs advanced in ufef j1 knowledge. The little learning which then fubfifted, vvas only the dotage of the fcholaflic philofo- phy of words; together with the infancy of politer learning, which only concerned words too, tho* in another way. The ele- gance and purity of the Latin tongue was then the highefl, and alrhofl the only point of a fcholar's ambition. Mathematical learn- ing was little valued or Cultivated. The true fyftem of the heavens was not dreamed of- There was no knowledge at all of the real form of the earth; and in general the ideas of mankind were not extended beyoiid their feniible horizon.
In* this ftate of affairs Chriftopher Co- lumbus, a riative of Genoa, undertook to
B 3 extend
6 An Account of the European extend the boundaries which ignorance had given to the world. This man's dcfign arofe from the juft idea he had formed of the figure of the earth ; though the maps, more erro- neous than his conjedlures, made him miftake the objedl. His defign was to find a paflage to China and India by the Wcftern ocean. It is not improbable, that befides the glory at- tending fuch a difcovery, and the private ad- vantages of fortune he might propofe to de- rive from it, Columbus had a further incen- tive from national jealoufy and refentment. Venice and Genoa were then almofl the only trading powers in Europe j and they had no other fupport of their power but their com- merce. This bred a rivalfhip, a jealoufy, and frequent wars between them ; but in traffick Venice was much fuperior 5 (he had drawn to herfelf almoil: the whole commerce of India, always one of the moft valuable in the world, and then carried on only by the way of Egypt and the Red Sea. An emulation of this kind might probably have put Columbus on finding another and more direft paffage to the Eaft- Indies, and by that means transferring this profitable trade to his own country. But nei- ther that vvhich he fought, nor that which he found, was deftined for his country. However, he performed the duty of a good citizen, and made his firft propofal at home ; at home it was rejected. Difcharged of this obHgation,
he
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^
"Settlements in America* y
he applied to the court of France, and nieeting no better fuccefs there, he offered next hi^ fervices to our Henry the feventh. This prince was rather a prudent fteward and ma- nager of a kingdom than a great king, and one of thofe defenfive geniufes who are the laft in the world to relifh a great but proble- matical defign. It is therefore no wonder that his brother, whom Columbus had etnplbyed to follicit in England, after feveral years fpent here, had little fuccefs ir his negotiation. But in Portugal, where he applied himfelf after his failure here, his oiEsrs were not only rejecfted, but he was infulted and ridiculed ; he found, however, in thefc infults, and this ridicule, a new incitement to purfue his fcheme, urged forward by the ftings of anger and refentment. Laft of all he exercifed his interefl and his patience for eight years together at the court of Ferdinand and Ifabella. There is a fort of enthufiafm in all proje(ftors, abfolutely necef- fary for their affairs, which makes them proof againft the moft fatiguing delays, the moft mortifying difappointments, the moft ftaock- ing infults j and what is fevercr than all, the prefumptuous judgments of the ignorant upon their defigns. Columbus had a fufficierft (hare of this quality. He had every day, during this long fpaec, to combat with every objecflion that want of knowledge, or that a falfc knowledge could propofe,, Scrpe held ' •. *B 4 that
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8 'An Account of the European that the known world, which they thought was all that could be known, floated like a vaft fcum upon the ocean; that the ocean itfelf wac iriinitc. Others, who entertained more juft notions, and believed that the whole of the earth and waters compofed one vaft globe, drew a confequence from it as abfurd as the former opinion. For they argued, that if Columbus fliould fail beyond a certain point, the convexity of this globe would prevent his return. As is ufual in fuch cafes, every one abounded with objedtions. His whole time was fpent in fruitlefs endeavours to enlighten ignorance, to remove prejudice, and to van- quifli that obftinate incredulity, which is of dl others the greateft enemy to improvement, rejeding every thing as falfe and abfurd, which is ever fo little out of the track of common ex- perience; and it is of the more dangerous con- fequence, as it carries a delufive air of coolnefs, of temper and wifdom. With all this, he had yet greater difficulties from the interefts of mankind, than from their malignity and igno- rance. The expencc of the undertaking, in- confiderable as this expence was, was at the bottom the chief fupport of the other ob^ jedions, and had more weight thai all the reft together. However, with an affiduity and iirmnefs of mind, never enough to be admired and applauded, heat length overcame all diffi- culties ; and, to his inexpreffible joy, with a
fleet
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Settlements in America.' ^
fleet of three (hips, and the title and command of an admiral, fet fail on the third of Auguft, 1492, on a voyage the mod daring and grand in the dcfign, and in the event of which the world was the moft concerned of any that ever yet was undertaken.
It muft not be omitted here, in honour to the fex, and in juflice to Ifabella, that this fcheme was firft countenanced, and the equip- ment made, by the queen only ; the king had no fhare in it j {he even raifed the money ne- ceiTary for the deiign upon her own jewels.
I do not propofe to relate all the particulars of Columbus's voyage in a track now fo well known, and fo much frequented j but then there was no chart to direft him, no lights from former navigators, no experience of the winds and currents particular to thofe feas. He had no guide but his own genius, nor any thing to comfort and appeafe his companions, difcouraged and mutinous with the length and hopelefsnefs of the voyage, but fome indica- tions which he drew from the cafual appear- ances of land birds, and floating fea-weeds, moft of them little to be depended upon, h\xl which this wife commander, well acquainted with the human heart, always knew how to turn to the beft advantage. It was in this expedition that the variation of the compafs was firft obfcrved ; an appearance which has ever iince puzzled all phibfophers, and which
at
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10 Art Account of the Europe AM
at this time made a great impreflion Uport Columbus's pilots; when in an unknown and boundlefs ocean, far from the road of former navigation, nature itfelf feemed altered, and the only guide they had left, appeared to be upon the point of forfaking them. But Columbus, with a wonderful quicknefs and fa- gacity, pretended to difcovcr a phyfical caufc for this appearance, which, though it did not fatisfy himfelf, was plaufible enough to remove fomething of the terrors of his mariners. Ex- pedients of this kind were daily wanting, and the fertile genius of this difcoverer invented them daily. However, by frequent ufe they began to lofe their effedt j the crew infifted on his returning, and grew loud and infolent in their demand. Some even talked of throw* ing the admiral overboard. His invention-, and almoft his hopes were near exhaufted> when the only thing which could appeaft them happened ; the clear difcovery of land, after a voyage of thirty-three days, the longefl ever any man was known to be from fight of fhore before that time.
They landed on one of the iflands now called Lucayos, or Bahamas, which is remark- able for nothing but this event 5 and here it was, that the two worlds, if I may ufe the ex- preffion, were firft introduced to one another; a meeting of an extraordinary nature, and which produced great changes in both. The
firft
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IfT I,
Settlements in America.' ii
firft thing Columbus did, after thanking God for the fucccfs of his important voyage, was to take poffcffion of the iiland in the name of their Catholic majefties, by fetting up a crofs upon the fhore ; great multitudes of the inhabi- tants looking on, ignorant and unconcerned at a ceremony which was to deprive them of their natural liberty. The ftay of the Spaniards in this iiland was but (hort ; they found from the extreme poverty of the people, that thefe were by no means the Indies, which they fought for. Columbus at his departure very prudently took with him fome of the natives, that they might learn the Spanifh tongue, and be his guides and interpreters in this new fcene of affairs j nor were they unwilling to accom- pany him. He touched on feveral of the iflands in the fame clufter, enquiring every where for gold, which was the only obje<fl of commerce he thought worth his care, becaufc the only thing that could give the court of Spain an high opinion of his difcoveries. All directed him to a great ifland called Bohio, of which they fpoke extraordinary things, and principally that it abounded in gold. They told him it lay to the Southward. To the Southward he fleered his courfe, and found the ifland, which he called Hifpaniola, no ways inferior to the reports ; commodious har- bours, an agreeable climate, a good foil, and, what was of moft confequence, a country that ^ • pro-
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i^ An Account of the EuROPEi^ii protnifedfrom fome famples a great abundance' of gold J inhabited by an humane and hofpitablc people, in a ftate of fimplicity fit to be worked upon. Thefe circumftances determined Co* lumbus to make this ifland the center of his defigns, to plant a colony there, and to eftablifli things in fome permanent order before he pro* cceded to further difcoveries. But to carry his defigns of a fettlement here, and his fchemesof future difcoveries into execution, it was necef- fary that he (hould return to Spain and equip himfelf with a proper force. He had now coUeded a fufficicnt quantity of gold to give credit to his voyage at court, and luch a num- ber of curiofities of all kinds as might flrike the imaginations, and engage the attention of the people. Before he parted, he took care to fecure the friendftiip of the principal king of the ifland by carefles and prefents, and under pretence of leaving him a force fufficient to aflift him againd his enemies, he laid tho ground- work of a colony. He built a fort, and put a fmail garrifon of Spaniards into it, with iuch diredtions for their conduct as might have cnfured their fafety and the good offices of the inhabitants, if the men had not been of that kind, who are incapable of adling prudently cither from their own or other pcople*swifdom- He did everything to gain the efteem of the natives, by the juftice, and even generolity of his dealings, and the polltenefs and humanity
with
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Settlements in America! ij
with which he behaved upon every occafion, He (hewed them too, that though it was no| in his will, it was nOw the lefs in his power to do them mifchicf, if they adted fo as to force him upon harftier meafures. The furprizing effedts of his cannon, and the fharpnefs of the Spanifh fwords, of which he made an innocent oftentation, convinced them of this.
When the Spaniards firft arrived in that country, they were taken for men come from heaven j and it was no wonder, coniidering the extreme novelty of their appearance, and the prodigious fuperiority they had in every refpedl over a people in all the nakednefs of uncultivated nature. Whatever therefore the Indians got from them, they valued in an high degree, not only as curious and ufeful, but even as things facred. The perfons of the Spaniards were refpeded in the fame light. Columbus, who knew the value of opinion, did all he could to keep them in their error ; and indeed no adlion of his, either of weak- nefs or cruelty, could furnifli matter to unde- ceive them. For which reafon, on his depar- ture, he left the people with the befl inclina- tions imaginable to nurfe his infant colony. And when he defired fome of the inhabitants to carry into Spain, he was more at a lofs whom he (hould accept, than how he (hould prevail ppon them to go.
CHAP.
14 ^ Account of the European
f..-
CHAP. II.
■f'. "1
'.%
/
Tie difcoFoery of the Caribbces. Columbus re^ turns to Europe, His behaviour at Lijbon* His reception at Barcelona by Ferdinand and Jfabella. Second voyage of Columbus, The condition of the Spaniards in Hifpaniola, The city of Ifabella built ^ and a Spanijh colony fettled. A voyage for better dtfcovering the
coaft of Cuba.
, .. -■ , ,- - -, t ... . ■•- ■ -* • '
ON his return homewards, ftill attentive to his deiign, he aimed at fuch difcoveries as could be profecuted without deviating con-* fiderably from his courfe. He touched upon feveral iilands to the Southward, and difco- vered the Caribbees, of the barbarity of whofc inhabitants he had heard terrible accounts in Hifpaniola. He had before landed upon Cu- ba in his pafTage from the Bahamas. So that in this his firft voyage, he gained a general knowledge of all the iilands, which lie in fuch an aftonifhing number in that great fea which divides North and South America. But hither- to he neither knew nor fu(ped:ed any conti- nent between him and China. ; > •'
He returned to Europe after an abfence of above fix months, and was driven by a great ftorm into the harbour of Lifbon. This he did not look upon as a misfortune 3 fince here,
he
'I* '"'.g
Settlements in America. if
he had the fatisfadtion of convincing the Por- tuguefe denionftratively of what an error they were guilty in rejedting his propofals. It was now his turn to triumph. Thofe who want fagacity to difcern the advantages of an offer, when it is made to themfelves, and treat it with the greateft fcorn, are always mod ftung with envy when they actually fee thefe advan- tages in the hands of another. The Portu- guefe had fome time before this begun to make a figure : their (hips had coafted Africa for a greater length than any had done before them, which opened to them a profitable trade to Guinea. This gave them a reputation. They confidered difcovcry as their proper pro- vince ; and they were enraged to fee that the Caftilians were now let into the fame path, irt confequcnce of an offer which they had re- jeeled. Some propofed to murder the ad- miral ; but all were agreed to treat him in the mofl unworthy manner. However, their de- fign of infulting him gave Columbus an oppor- tunity at once of gratifying his refentment, maintaining his own dignity, and afTerting the honour of the flag of Caflile. He fent to the king at his firfl entering the harbour, to de- lire a liberty to come up to Lifbon and refrefh, as he had his mafler's orders not to avoid his ports ; adding, that he was not from Guinea, but the Indies. An officer of the king of Por- tugal came aboard him with an armed force,
and
■*>»•
'•%K
1 6 jin Account of the European «nd ordered him to come aC:orc, and give an account of himfelf to the king's officers. Co- lumbus told him he had the honour of ferving the king of Caftile, and would own himfelf accountable to no other. The Portugucfe then defired him to fend the mafter of his fhip j this he likewife refufed^ faying, that the admirals of Caftile always chofe rather to die than deliver up themfelves, or even the mcaneft of their men ; and if violence was intended, he was prepared to meet force with force. A fpiritcd behaviour, in almoft any circumftance of ftrength, is the moft politic as well as the moft honourable courfe ; we preferve a re- fped at leaft by it, and with that we generally preferve every tb^ng 5 but when we lofe re- iped, every thing is loft. We invite rather than fuffer infults, and the firft is the only one we can refift with prudence. Columbus found this ; the officer did not purfue his de- mands ; the admiral had all the refreftiments he wanted j and was even received at court with particular marks of diftindtion.
From Liifbon he proceeded to Seville ; the court was then at Barcelona. But before he went to give an account of his voyage, he took all the care he could to provide for ano- ther. He wrote an abftrad: of his proceedings, and fent with it a memorial of all fuch things as were neceffary for the eftablifhment of a co- lony, and for further difcoveries. ^oon after he
began
m
m
4-
%
-&
began his journey 'to Barcelona,, every -where followed by the - admiration and applaufcs of the. people, . who crowded to iee him -from all parts* He entered the city in^ fort of ttiuniph; A ad. certainly there never was a more innoccntJ tfiumph, ncir one, that formed a more new and pleafing fpedacle; /Hehadnot deftroyed, but difcovered jaations. 1 The i^mericanshe brought with him appeared in all the uncouth finery of their !own country, wonder'd^ at by every
. body,.4and themfelvcs admiring every thing they.faw, . The feveral animalsv inany highly.
,^. beautiful, and all ftrangers .to^this part of th«
ill worldv w^re fo di^ofed as<to hie feen •without
difficulty ; the other curioiitfes of the new»
wortd, were, difplayed in the moft advantagei^
: J ous planner; theutenfils, the arms, andi thd
I Ornaments ofia people fo remote from us. in) 4 fituation and hianners; fome valuable ibr the^
I materials: eventhe.rudene{s:af the:workmanii. fliip.in many made them but theimore curiom;) when .it was confidered by whoni, ^d witfc what ihftruments they..were :wr6Mght. ? ^Thel gold wasi hot forgot. The admiral hirafdf* clofed the proccffion. ^ !!« was received bvUiei king and queen with "all imaginable marks tif: eftccm and regard,and they ordered a magnifi-? cent throne tbib^ ^seeded in publick to dd himl honour, ; A chs
greater
was prepared
llioi, in^whickhe fat, and gave in prefence of!
th^ wh9la:cotirt a fuil'vamdxkrcumfiantiahaci^:
•/Vkpl. I. C count
~*»% .
18 An Account of the European count of all his difcoveries, with that com- pofedneis and gravity, which is fo extremely agreeable to the Spanifli hunaour, and with the modefty of a man who knows he has done things which do not need to be proclaimed by himfelf. The fuccefsful merit of Co- lumbus was underftood by every body ; and when the king and queen led the way, all the grandees and nobility of the court vied with each other in their civilities and careffes,
Thefe honours did not fatisfy Columbus. He prepared with all expedition for a fecond voyage. The difficulties attending the firft were all vanifhed. The importance of the objed appeared every day more clearly, and the court was willing to fecond the vivacity of ]m defires to the full. But before his depar- ture there was one thing which they judged wanting tc give them a clear and unqueftion- ablc right to the countries, which ihould be difcovered, This was a grant of them from the pope. The Portuguefe fome time before had a grant of fuch lands as they fhould dif- eover within certain latitudes j and this grant made a fimikr one to the Spaniards appear the more neceflary. The pope accordingly gave a very ample bull in their favour, very liberally conceding countries, of which he was fo far from having any poffeffion, that he had no knowledge of them. The limits of this grant was a line drawn froi
grant
pole
^ «
1
t
1
pol(
iff
1
4-
ft ^
I.
Settlements /« America* 19
pole, an hundred leagues to the Weftward of the Azores. On the other fide no bounds at all were fet. This was afterwards a fubjedl of much controverfy between the crowns of Spain and Portugal, the latter having got a grant of all that (hould be difcovered to the Eaft, as the former had of all to the Weft* ward i thofe who drew the bulls not having known enough of the figure of the e^rih to fee, that thefe grants muft neceffarily fclafli ; and the powers which defired them, were per- haps not forry to find their pretenfions fuch as they might extend or contra<ft at pleafurc.
Whatever the validity of this ample grant might be, Columbus wa$ made governor with the higheft authority over all that it contained* But he had fomewhat with him more material for his poiTefBon than any charters. This was a fleet of feventeen fail of (hips, with all man- ner of neceflaries for fettlcment or conqueft, and fifteen hundred men on board, fome of them of the beft families in Spain. With this fleet he fet fail on his fecond voyage the 25th of September, 1493. He gave each of the captains inftru(ftions for their courfe fealed, with orders not to open them, unlcfs in diftrefs, and feparated from the fleet, that he might create fuch an abfolute dependence of all up- on himfelf, as (hould preferve an uniformity in their defigns. On the fecond of November they made land, which is the ifland now
C 2 called
i
il^o Amhccoisi^T of the Europei^
called Dominica. But his defign was iirft t^ fettle his colony before he. attempted ahy nt.SK) difcov.eryy therefore he .made no ftay/ hcrc^ iior at feveral other iflands at .whicb he touch?* cd before he could make Hifpaniola. t: On his arrival he : found the fort he ha^ built utterly demoliihed, and: all his meji killed.- ^ The Spaniards had firft fallqn out amongfl themfelves, upon the ufual fubjefts pf ftrife, women and gold ; and afterwards prefer^ting, as little. harmony with the natives, a'nd.obfefying no decency in jtheir behaviour; on^uftice in their dealings, they quickly Joft their efteem, and were every man murdered j flifter havbg been difperied into difFereht pa'rt^ df theifland.j The prince^ whom they wcf* left. to defend, iwaa himfelf wounded in their defence, and borJe; this mark of his affe<ak>ii iind goal faitlv .^hen. Columbus, returned t© |he rQand.. The admiral very wifely forbore to make any nice enquiry into the affair^, or to cQmmencJs hbftilities in revenge for the lofs of his ff>ldiers.; but he-tQok.the moftefFeftual hieafures to prevent fuch an evil for the fu- ture ^: he chole a more commodious ftation for ihis colony, jon the North-eaft part of the ifland, .iJVhich had a good port, great convcr niency of water, and a good foil, and Jay near that part where he was informed the richefl mines of the country, were found : in grati- tude tQihisi rayal patronefs he called St Ifabeltar.
Oiin'J
•'
H(
j-He engaged in u the; iibttlemdiit With fgrcaic wafmtbiiand never lillowtdi rjbimfelf a^mti)?- -m^nt's rej»fe^ )fix)rtr i fuperintcndingj the /fortib- ;£cationsi thh private' haiiffcsiiiand tlife w-oribs ;of agL Icnltuare ^ 'irp' ali ^vhich i the i f at ig:usi wi«s infinite 5! >fcfr iib had not poly the natural difi- ificultiies ' attending all fiich -undertakingsy jbut rJi€vhad the ihfuperable'iazihef? of the Spai- Iniards "to contend with. Sothat fpent with ,'lhe fetigbes of fo long a Voyargey and thje greater ^tigbes: he had endured fincfa he caqicbn (hdre, rhcnfelldntja didangeroudillnefo'; Gf thisaccil- adent ifcwefc-alx)f his nidrt took rthe advantage to ibcgln) i trcbfllion j to undb ^ all |ie had dion e, iajidto^thi^ow every thing into the moil terrible ,Corifiifion. ' Thefe people on th^eir leaving aSpain, had'fancied tathemfelves that gold wiiB ^jto' be found every where in this country, and .that there; required nothing- further to make ^Tiple eftates, than to be tranfported into it*; /hut finding their miftake, and that inilead of (receiy^ing • thefc golden Ihowers w^ithout any <piin?v they fared ill,; laboured hard,: and that ,th«it^ pr«)(jpcd:s <)£ a fortune, if any atall, werb reniLQtei arid uncertain, /their difcoulbeDt bbcabws ^Qi[ij?ratf laodthc niutinous difpoikion'incmifed Ih feft^aadwas Ci'rried to foch extremities,' iRst ifctiheiadaiiral ihad;notir'ecoyercd;at;i very criftiiJ- ii^ltiifa?i mdion his keco^^ery^hadjaot afled ih thftC^<ftftTjsfc|lwte;^ui4>eff?<9^«alinaaniier, all his jlo^c$oc^;.^jfi?t*leme«t;ifa.iHif|aniola.had.beeni , C 3 at
■uii[:)
22 An Account of the European
at an end. He was fatisficd with imprifoning fomc of the chiefs. This was neither a time nor a place for very extenfivc or rigorous juf- tice. He quelled this fedition, but' he faw at the fame time that his work was not yet done j he faw another danger, againft which he was to provide with equal diligence. He had good reafons to apprehend, that the Americans were not well afredted to their new guefts, and might probably meditate to cut them off, whilft they faw them divided amongft them- felves. To prevent this, as well as to banifli idlenefs from amongft his men, and to revive military difcipline, he marched into the heart of the country, through the moft frequented parts of it, in order of battle, colours flying, and trumpets founding, with the flower of his troops, to the mountains of Cibao j where lay the richeft mines then difcovered in the ifland^ Here he built a fort to fecure this advantage- ous poft, and overawe the country ; and then he returned in the fame pomp and order, to the inexpreffible terror of the inhabitants, who had now no profpedt of withftanding a force, which to them feer^ed more than human.
In this expedition Columbus made great oftentation of his cavalry. This was the firft time the Indians of America had ever feen horfes. Their dread of thefe animals and their riders were extreme j they thought both form- ed but one animal) and the impetuofity of their
charge
'^_
%
!
Settlements in America. 23
charge appeared irrcfiftable to thefe naked and ill-armed people. Wherever they appeared, thofe Indians, who intended any hoft»lity, im- mediately fled i nor did they think the inter- vention of the deepeft and moft rapid rivers any fecurity 5 they believed that the horfes could fly, and that nothing was impoflible to creatures {o extraordinary. But Columbus did not rely upon thofe prejudices, though he made all imaginable ufe of them ; knowing that thofe things which appear mofl: terrible at firft, become pvery day lefs afFecfting by ufe, and that they even grow contemptible, whea their real power is once well known. For which reafon he negledted none of his former methods of cultivating the affedlions of the natives ; he ftill fhewed them all manner of refpedl, and whpn he had taken two perfbns of their nation, who had committed fome ads of hoftility, and was at the point of putting them to death, he pardoned and fct them free at the interceflion of a prince of the country, with whom he was in dliance. On the other hand, he faw how neceflary it was to preferve a fl:ri<ft difcipline amongft the Spaniards, to keep them from that idlenefs to which they had fuch a propenfity, and which naturally retarded the growth of the colony, at the fame time that it nouriflied difcontent and fedition. He employed them in cutting roads through th^ country, a work which the natives never
C 4 ^t^
^4 jfnjAccovi^r of the European
Attempted themfelvcs, nor now cn^cavourid to oppofc, though it be one of the bcft inftrur meats of enflavin^ ajiy barbfirous people. This wife governor obfervedbefidcsj that the Spaniards conformed with great difficulty to the Indian manner of living, to which, howt- ^ever, they were ncceffitated, biit from which^ ibr want of ufe, they fufFered great hardships. To 'remedy this evil, he daily fcnt out fmaU ;parties lupon expeditions i into : the country ;; from wihich he derived two^ material adviin>- tages.' Firftj he cniired, by degrees, all Jiispeo^ rple to cthc manner of liying in the country,; and fecondlyi he taught them to know it pei> fedtly, left; a war fhould find th«m unptovided in. the only point m which the » Indians' were Itheir fupcriots,; and a point which ih a woody rand n^ountainoius country is certainly of the ^leateft importancci , Aid this, he didwthout jpriy material hazard to the Cum of his affairs. At homt -he endeavoured to, withdraw the (Spaniands from their ronjantic hopes' of mi^ .xaculous treafur£S, and to fix them to a rational ?and induftrious. courfe of .life. ' h^^jpptefent- Ci^d.to them,' that there was no foal wealth but vwhat;ar6fe froth labour :i ttnd th^t;a garden v^ ■xiorni grouhd, and a n?iir, were riches more to 'Jthelr .prefeqt pApofe^ than all^he goJd th^y .were.in 'fixpedation of meeting in the Indies, xln: fliQPt, he ilabQured for the eft^ftbUftimient^f diisicobdy -winfe as )n^^ •ii' ' 4. J ' bi^
Settlements in AiW^RicA* 25
his views had extended no further ; at the famd time that he meditated the greateft'difcovevies^ and confidcrcdthoTe things which had atef niflied the world, only as the earnetl of-bTi
future performances. .• • ■ v; - ■: r» lo
I have before meritloned his having put iii at Cuba. The country from fome fpeciraeni feemed a rich difcovery j but whether it was an iflandj'or^ part bf fome great continent; he was altogether uncertain. Now that h% had got his colony . to take firm root in th* Indies, he prepared with all expedition t6 afcertain this point, and to pufh his difcove^ ries to the utmoft, in which he had fucceeded Jiitherto fo happily, , .. , ..u
G H A P. III.
I.
- ■ • ■ \ t r ■ ■■ .... 1 ' , ' .. f
^he difficulties attending the yo]fage, yamaic^
di [covered , , Columbus returns to Hifpanicla^
~ l%e Spaniards rebel. A wa,r with the In->
.. dians of that country, They are conquered,
I'heir fcheme Jor Jlarving the Spaniards, ,
? H I S voyage was more remarkable for
: the hardftiips which the admiral and his
itien fuffered, than for any confiderable difco-^ s?ery it produced. As he endeavoured to coafi: along the Southern fhore of Cuba, he was eiir tangled in, a; labyrinth of an innumerable mult ^.}' V titude
n
26 '^n Account 0/ the European titudeofiflands, amongft which he reckoned 160 in one day. They were moft of them pleafant and well inhabited, affording our na- vigator an agreeable meditation on this fertility of nature, where the world looked for nothing but a barren ocean. Thefe iflands, Colum- bus, who had a grateful mind, in which the memory of his benefadrefs was always upper- moft, called Jardin de la Reyna, or the queen's garden, in honour of queen Ifabella. But their number and fertility made little amends for the obftrudtion they gave Columbus in the courfe of his navigation. The coaft abfolutely unknown, among fo rnany rocks, fands, and ihelves, the fudden and violent ftorms, the tornadoes, and the terrible thunder and light- ning fo conftant between the tropics, obliged him to keep a continual watch, and held his mind upon a conftant ftretch ; the voyage was extended to an unprofitable length by thefe difficulties ; and being driven out to fea, the worft difafter of all befel them. Their pro- viiions fell fliort. In this extremity they were obliged to come to a very narrow and bad al- lowance, in the diftribntion of which the ad- miral fared nothing better than the reft. In this unremitted fatigue of body and of mind, in famine and in danger, his ufual firmnefs began nearly to forfake him ; but it could go no further than to oblige him to remark in his journal, that no intereft of his own fhould
eve^
i
Settlements in America,
27
ever oblige him to engage again in fuch an en- terprife. They were at laft relieved by the appearance of Jamaica, where they were hof^ pitably received, and fupplied with Caffava bread and water. From thence they proceed- ed, mortified and difappointcd, to Hifpaniola, not being able to come to any certainty con-- cerning Cuba, other than that they under- ftood from fome of the inhabitants that it was an ifland. This difappointment, and the in- finite fatigue and difficulty of the voyage, threw Columbus into a lethargy, which was near being fatal to him, and of which he was fcarcely recovered when they arrived at the harbour of Ifabella.
Here they found all things in confufion, and the colony in the utmoft danger of being a fe^ cond time utterly deftroyed 5 as if its profpe*- rity or deftrudlion depended upon the prcfence or abfence of Columbus. For no fooner was he failed, than the Spaniards, who were very difficultly retained in their duty by all his Ilea- dinefs and wifdom, broke through all regu* lations, laughed at government and difci- pline, and fpread themfelves over the ifland, committing a thoufand diforders, and living at free quarter upon the inhabitants, whofe ha- tred to them was worked up to fuch a point, that they wanted only the word from their princes to fall on and maflfacre the whole co- lony J a thing by no means impracticable, in
its
1
hS:
its; prefcnt fdifoirijer; • ipcmriaf the^jidmcipal foverdigns ofl the lOaod took/ aijJ^iitagc:) off jthb difpofition, aidanitcd tojitive|oUt thjoiie imppFr rious ihtriidersv J i cNpiie .'adhe^irod; ito jthetri.bujt one called Olina£3agdrryi'thfe fameprihcc xi^JuMii Cblumbiis fromt^jber^cft^ ihaB j tdksM £o.m\Mt pain &, to obi rg^ . * n In his ( dorainaofi s^> fonie. • of the Spaniard s fbiind i|)rotfiidtion i "• i .'Thq; jother l^dnces faiad alreadyr botnihencod h<biti one of thcn> MledUSxtiefiiii of rtiie Spaniards, ,whQ were^^king ma uftiform : meaftireis to. opi- ftofer fchclm 5 tictthlcc 1 ia their prefcnt AnarcKy «ouldiit be well expet^jedii (• :• -^^yl ; ;q 'j;iln this concitioto was the ifland onvihcai^ rival of Columbus, whofq ffirft biifinefs was tb ieolledt i *he fcatter^iedt Sf a^intntis .of the colony, ^ftd tQiforhirtbaB^p/iintaa-bodyv ; TJii&ihs wfep the bep^i able tp decom|)li?fh^Jbficaufcrthd)pco- fent dapgef": added! a. weight to ihis! mthmytyii bxit itjwasncceffar^ th^t He iffiotddJoicrnbctixne. 'Kfe/was xefolved, to a<fb \«^ith>U^hatifor^b Aje^ihad, latlaerithiain w^it until thi union ibfihciifianidecs m^ht be better oementedl againfl: hxrhiittnishty niight find f©melefler matter^ inftheilr f^viosATiib ;iaife thefe courage, and abaite thtclri t€j;c©it:qf the Spahlfib'; ^i;m^»7 He therefore ;firft xnarchexi agiioddfhe Jiing, \yho;bad killed the; i^ Spat- piards j; a'sJi was ani enterprifc cx)loqred With m appeariartce ■©? jjLi{li<jej tind bec^Uifo th&t prince happened to bei the worft pr^paredi to r^c^iv^him*/. He;wa§ieafily fubdufi^ x.ai?4 fe^ «:i veral
-t
'",*
■4
-m.
j[h^ feiG»nd'^h<3naf!S6lumbilS:defig0e4(t0 ^^
•vyftMefoIyed- tO!(ii/i?tt(ni^:e^^ him hyfmy^iihm^ gk ihird in.t^ Aii^fpoiM^e.^ by a .ftratagemi; wfcidi 4id: . !n0 -bpineiij:! (>f<>//his „ fiocerijty, a;n(i mtfeeis
fliewjed ^greftt::r^.e^bnefe .in thi^ junfortimatQ fearbari^a,. thaia ^ttyiextraprdinary corM;riVa.a.c0 in tKofe who d^^eiy^ddiii^i - . c:f
'LThe other prinQes^^erenot terrified At thefa examples. Their hatred to the Spania^rds iji-t (^jre^fed; andpefceiyifig that all depended upon aifudd.er) and vigprpus exertion of tbeiriftreiirgth^ ^hey . brought an , iiiinieofe army,, jt is faid pf ope; huu.dredi !thpiifan4i;ni^n>/ into the: fields vvhich was arrayed in the lairg^fl; plain in th^t country. Col umfeus, . though 'he had . but a fiiiall forccj did; not fcrwple. to go put to meet t^hem, iHis army, cpnfifted but of two hun- dred foot, t\yenty horfe and twenty vy^olf dogs. The letter part ,pf this, army has. a Judicrpus appearance 5 but it was . a y^ry feripus njgtter; ^mongft ^, people no , better prpvided with arms pitenflve or' defenfive than the Indians. Neither was it rafliin Columbus to venture an engagement againft forces fo vaftly fuperior in numbers s for wh^)^ fuch numbers are no bet- ter fkilledor armedthan thefe were, their mul- titude.i;S in fadt no juft caufc of dread but to themrelves. The event was anfvverable 3 the vidpry was decifive for the Spajjiwuds, in whicj-v
their
■e.-i--'
i
hu
50 An Account of the European their horfee and dogs had a confiderable fharc; the lofs on the fide of the Indians was very great. From that day forward they defpair- cd, and relinojaifhed all thoughts of diflodging the Spaniard&lby force. Columbus had but little difficulty ifi reducing the whole ifland, which now became a province of Spain, had a tri- bute impofed, and forts built in feveral pkirts to enforce the levying of it, and to take away from this unhappy people all profped of liberty.
In this affed:ing fituation they often aflced the Spaniards, when they intended to return to their own country. Small as the number of thefe ftrangers was, the inhabitants were ex- tremely burthened to fubfift them. One Spa- niard confumed more than ten Indians ; a cir- cumftance which fliews how little this people had advanced in the art of cultivating the earth, or how lazy they were in doing it, fince their indigence reduced them to fuch an extreme frugality, that they found the Spani- niards, who are fomc of the moft abftemious people upon earth, exceffively voracious in the comparifon. Their experience of this, joined to their defpair, put the Indians upon a pro- jcifl of ftarving out their invaders. In purfu- ance of this fcheme, they entirely abandoned the little agriculture which they pradifed, and unanimoufly retired into the moft barren and impradlicable parts of the iflpjid. This
ill-
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t( |
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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ai |
•7
Settlements in America* 31
lll-advifed ftratagem complcatcd their ruin. A number of people crouded into the worft parts of the country, fubfifting only upon its fpontaneous produdlions, were foon reduced to the moft terrible famine. Its fure atten- dant epidemical flcknefs purfued at its heels ; and this miferahle people, half famiflied and Icffened a third of their numbers, were obliged to relinquifh their fcheme, to come down into the open country, and to fubmit once more to bread and fetters. r
This conqueft, and the fubfequent ones made by the feveral European nations, with as little colour of right as confcioufnefs of doing any thing wrong, gives one juft reafon to reflect on the notions entertained by mankind in all times concerning the right of dominion. At this period few doubted of the power of the pope to convey a full right to any country he was pleaied to chalk out; amongft the faith- ful, becaufe they were fubjeft to the church ; and amongft infidels, becaufe it wasmeritoriou*j to make them fubjedt to it. This notion began to lofe ground at the reformation, but another arofe of as bad a tendency ; the idea of the dominion of grace, which prevailed with fe- veral, and the efFedls of which we have felt a- mongft ourfeives. The Mahometan great merit is to fpread the empire and the faith j and none among them doubt the legality of fubduing any nation for thefe good purpofes. The Greek*
held,
■ w vr.'^-"v't I -w
U\ '\
i
I
3 a ^^iV.ccQDNT' of the Europe-^
h^y, that the barbarians were naturally d^H Sgned to be their llaves» aad this was fo general ^notion, that Ariftotle himfelf, with all his pe-? ^etratipn, gave intp it very, ferioufly. In: trutli,^ it.has its principle in hun>an nature, for the generality of , mankind very readily Aide froni wha; they conceive a fitnefs for government, to a rigjit of governing; and they do not fo readin \y a,e;ree, th^t thofe who are faperior in endow- j^iieptsihpulidQolyb.e equal in condition. Thefe. things partly palliate the guil.tand,horror of .a' ^onqu€|ft,:.qn/i4rjl}al«ph v^'iik fplittle colour, over a, people vvboftf chief offence was their ^jreduUr. ty, and their jconfidence in rrieix >vbo cjid not ^eferve it. But the circumftances of CqIuiu-^ bus, the meafures he wa$. obliged to. prefe^v^ with his court, and his humane ,and gentle tifeatm^nt of this people, by which he mi-, t^gated the rigor of this conqueft, take olF much of the blanie froni him, as the neceffity of taking up ,arm§ at all nev^r arofe from Jiis: condudt, or from hjs prders. On the contralry^ bis whole beKavipur both to the Spaniards .and Indians, thje care he took to eftablifli the. one; without injury to the other, and .the conftant; bent of his policy; to work every thing, by-) gentle method?,, may. well be .^n example iQ all perfons Jn the fame fituation. • ^n
: Since I have.digrcfled fo far, it virill be thel more ejfcufable to n^ention .^ circwmftanqe re-Js corded iR tfre hiftpry qf this fettleoacnt.. ^Aw^c.f.
nca
1 **
;t .
SfiTTLEMfeNts !:t America, 33
flea was then, at leaft thefe parts of it were, without almoft any of thofe animals by which we profit (o greatly. It had neither horfes nor oxen, nor Iheep, nor fwine. Columbus brought eight fows into America, and a fmall number of horned cattle. This was the ftoek w'hich fupplied, about two hundred years ago^ a country now the mod abounding in thefe animals of any part of the known world ; in which too it has been a buiinefs for this cen- tury paft, to hunt oxen merely for their hides- An example which (liews how fmall a num-* ber might originally have ferved to produce all the animals upon earth, who commonly pro- create very faft to a certain point, and when they arrive at it, feem much at a ftand.
' .j»Jw 'i:;;.u?;fT'*"f>r
J 1 <
CHAP. IV. !
- f ■
Complaints agalnfi Columbus. A perfon is fent to enquire into his condudi. He returns to Spain, He is acquitted. He Jets out on his third voyage i He dif covers the continent of South America, He fails to Hifpaniola,
WHILST Columbus was reducing this wealthy ifland to the obedience of the croWn of Cafiile, and laying the foundations of the Spanifii grandeur in America, his enemies were endeavouring with pains as indefatigable to ruin him in Spain. Some of the perfons • Vol. I. D prin-
"*■. 'ax' •*■
j4 jin AccouNt ofthi EuJioPEA* principally concerned in the late diforders, fled' to Spain before bis return > and there to juftify their own* condudt, and gratify their malice, they accufed him of negledling the colony, ind of having deceived their majeftics and the adventurers with falfe hopes of gold;^ from a country which produced very little either of that metal or any thing etfe that was valuable. Thefe compkints Were not without efFed j and an officer, fitter by his character f6r a fpy and informer than a rcdreffer df grievances, was fent to infjpedl: into his conda<5t j in which manner of proceeding there Was certainly a policy as erroneous, as it was unj^ft and in- grateful. At that diflanee from the fountain of authority^ with an enemy at the door, and a mutinous houdlold, a commander ought al- ways to be trufted or i^emoved. This man behaved m a brutiflb and infolent manner, like all llich perfons, who unconfcious of any rt^erit of their own, are puffed Uj^ with any little portion of delegated power. Columbus found that he flaid here to no purpofe under fuch difgraceful terms j artd that his prcfepce at court was abfolutely necefTary to his fupport. lie determined to return once more to Spain, convinced that a long abfence is mortal to one's interefl at court, and that importunity and at- tendance often plead better than the moft folid fervices. However, before he departed'^ be exerted the little remains of authority he
bad
■M
SEttLEMENTS in AMfcRICA. 3^;
had left, to fettle every thing in fuch a manner, as to prevent thofe diforders which hitherto he hdfd always found the certain confequence of his abfence. He built forts in all the mate- rial parts of the iiland, to retain the inhabi- tants in their fabjeftion. He eftabliflied the civil government upon a better footing, and redoubled his diligence for the difcovery of mines, which were to be the great agents in his ainirs; nor did he altogether fail of fuccefs* It was the fate of this great man to have his virtue continually exercifed with troubles and diftreffes. He continued his courfe to Spain in the latitude of 22, not having at that time difcovered the advantageous method of running into the Northern latitudes to meet the South-weft winds : they therefore made very little way ; a fcarcity enfued, in which they were reduced to fix ounces of provifion a day for each perfon. On thefe occafions the admiral fared no better than the common failor J yet in this diftrefs his hunger did not get the better of the tendernefs and humanity which diftingui(hed his charadter. He re- fufed to lifteii to the prelfing inftances of his crew, who we're very earneft in this diltrefs to have the Indian prifoners thrown overboard to leffen the confumption of provilions. In this voyage his fkill was as remarkable as his mag- nanimity. He had nine experienced pilots m his fleet 5 yetnotone of them could tell where
D 2 they
S'!
j6 An Account of the European
they were, after having been a full montii from the fight of the laft land. This length of time perfuaded them they muft be very near Europe, and they were therefore for crowding fail to make land as foon as poffibl«. But Co- lumbus, upon fure obfervations, maintained they were but a little to the Weft ward of the .Azores, and therefore ordered his fails to be flackened for fear of land. His prediction was fulfilled, and the Azores relieved them next morning. This, added to a feries of predic- tions and noble difeoveries, made his fkill fecm fomething prophetic, and exalted his charac- ter in this refpedt above all the feamen before his time ; and indeed eonfidering his oppor- tunities of improvement, and what he did himfelf to improve bis art, he will perhaps appear inferior to none who have fucceeded him.
All the accufations and prejudiced againft the admiral vjinifhed almoft as foon as he ap- peared. He brought fuch teftimonies of his fidelity and good behaviour, as filenced all ca- lumnies which arofe on that head ; and the large fpecimens of gold and pearl he produced, refuted all that was faid on the poverty of the Indies. The court was fully convinced of the importance of the new colony^ ihe merit of its governor, and the neceflity of a fpeedy fupply. But the admiral's enemies were not idley though tbey were filenced j they continued
to
i' '-m
Settlements in America, 37
tp throw ^11 ipanner of obftrudtions in his ways which w^s a thing not difficult in a country, where .every thing is executed with much phlegm and languor, and where thofc forms apd ipechanical methods of buiinefs, peceffary perhaps in the common courfe of affairs, but ruinous in great defigns, are morip ?xa^ly oJDferved, than any where elfe. It was therefore with great difficulty that hp was able to pirocure any relief to be fcnt to fjifpaniola, but with much greater, and after a thoufand delays and difappointments, that he was him- feif enabled to fct out on a difcovery of more importance than any of the former.
He defigned to ftand to the Southward from the Canaries, until he (hould pome under the equinodlial line, and then to proceed di-» redtly Weftward, until Hifpaniola fbould bear to the North' >veft from him, to try what opening that might afftjrd to India, or what new iflands or what continent might reward his trouble. IJ^ therefore flood ^way tP thq Cape de Verd iflands, and then South-weft, In this navigation a thick fog, which inter-' cepted the light of the fun and ftars, envel^- loped them for feveral days j and when this cleared off, the heats were grown fo exceffive, that the men could not venture between decks. The fun being at this tin>e nearly vertical, the heavy rains which fall at this feafon betweea ^he tropigs, without abating the heat> a^de4
P 3 inuch
I
T'iil
i
38 j^n Account of the European ynuch to their diftrefs. At lad a fmart gale fprang up, an4 they ^yent before it feventcen days to the Weftward. The adpiiral, who f:ould have no fecond to fupply his place, fcarce allowed himfelf a moment's (leep ; but in this, as in all his voyages, had the whole burthen of every thing upon himfelf; this fa- tigue threw liim into a fit of the gout ; but neither the fatigue nor the diforder could re- move hipi froqi the deck, or make hiqi abate of his ufual vigilance. His provifions, how- ever, being d'amaged by the heat, tlie wine cafks, many of them burft, and the \yine be- ing foured in thole that held, obliged him to alter the courfe he intended to keep iSouth- y^ard, and to decline fome points to theNorth- ?iveft, hoping to fall in with fome of the Ca- ribbees, where he intended to refit and take in provifions, to enable him to continue his fiifcoverics. But he had not failed long, wheri from the round-top a feaman faw land, which was an ifland on the coaft of Guiana, now called Trinidad. Having paiTed this iflapd and fwo others, which lie in the mouth qf the great river Oronoquo, he was furprized apd endan- gered by a phaenomenoii he had never feen before. The river Oronoquo, at all times very great, at this tiqie augmented tenfold by the rains we have juft mcjitioupd, rufhing into the ocean with an immenfe and rapid flood, inccts the tide j which rifes here to a great
height.
'W
Settlements w America. 39
height, and comes in with much ftrength ; and both being pent up between the iflands, and reverberated from on& to another, caufed a confli(ft45Xtremely terrifying to thofe who had not been accuftomed to it, and were ignorant of the caufe, as Columbus was at this time. But failing further he found plainly that he was in frefh water, and judging rightly that it was probable no ifland could fupply fo vaft a river, he began fo fufped: he hgd difcovered the continent. But when he left the river, ^nd found that land continued on to the Weft- ward for a great way, he was convinced of it. Satisfied, in fome meafure, with this difcovery, he yielded to the uneafinefs and diftrefles of his crew, and bore away for Hifpaniola, favoured by a fair wind and thofe currents which fet ftrongly to the Weftward all along the North- ern coaft of South America.
In the courfe pf this difcovery the admiral landed in feveral places, and traded with the inhabitants, amongft whom he found gold and pearl • in tolerable plenty. Contrary to the cuftom of many navigators, who behave wherever they go as if they never intended to come there again, he every where ufed the natives with great civility, and gave then> what they judged the full value of their com- modities ; little bells, bits of glaft and of tin, with fome trifling apparel, being exchanged fgr gold-duft and pearls, and much to th^
a 4 i^^t
Ao An Account of the Ei/ropean
fatisfadion of both parties, who thought they had each over-reached the other, and indeecj \vith equal reafon. '\ „
c p A P. V. ' ; ;. \
Cohimbtis finds the Spaniards of Hifpanigla in. rebellion. His meafures to fupprefs it. New complaints again/1 him in Spain, He is fu- perjeded in the government^ and lent to Spair\ in iron^. / ...
HE arrived at Hifpaniola the 19th of Auguft, 1498^ quite worn down with ficj^nefs and contii ual watcLing, the neceffity pf \yl}ich was rather increafed than diminifhe4 ;as he came nearer honne, amongft fuch a mul-r titude of iflands and ftipals as filled thofe feas, at this time little known j a^ld to this, that a current, fitting ftrongly Weflward towards the continent, t}ireatjsned every moment, withr out the greateft attention, to carry him out of |iis courfe. So wafted was he with the fa- tigue, that his brother, whom he had left in Jiis place, fcarce Jcpew him at his return. And |ie found that he was likely to have as little fepofe upon land as at fea.
The admiral's authority had fufFcred fome diminution, from the ill-judged ftep offending ^ check upon his motions before he left Hif- paniola ; and the encouragement this gave to
Settlements in America. 41
^\ (orts of murmurings and complaints againft government, fow'd the feeds of a rebellion, which fprung up in the colony foon after he left it. But this rebellion was more dangeroufly formed tharr-either of the former. For in the fim place, the rebels had regularly appointed themfelves a chief, called Francis Rold^n ; ^ jnan whom the admiral had left in a c;onfide- ^ablc poft : this gave it an uniformity and credit. And fecondly, tbey gained the Indians io their party, by pretending to be their pa- trons, and the affertors of their liberty. Then, to eftablifti themfelves the more fecurely, they made a feceffion from the uncorrupted part of the colony, and fettled in another part of the ifiand, which formed an afylum for ^11 idle and feditious perfons, by whom they were continually reinforced.
In this threatening ftate of things, the admi-^ ral, having found his forces in no condition to adt offeniivcly againft the rebels, did what he could to break their force, and diffolve that union which made them formidable. He be- gan by publi(hing afree pardon for ail that chofe to cancel their crimes by a timely fubmiflion. Obfcrving belides, that many were very de^ lirous of returning to Spain, he gave them to underftand they might go with the (hips which brought the laft fuccours. He did not intend to perform this latter part immediately, but he kjpew that hi§ offers would ftagger (oca? 5
- ' and
ip
42 \An Account of the European
and that in afFairs of this nature, it is every thing to gain time. He wrote to court a full account of his late difcQveries, and fent fam- pljis of the wealth they yielded. Hc took the fame opportunity of defcribing the difr- traded ftate of the colony, defiring that 50 or 60 men might be fent by every (hip, which he promifed to replace by as many of the rebels. He propofed this plan, left the Spanifti power ftiould be weakened in thpfc parts, by diminifliing their ynen, or kept in a5 dangerous a ftate, by harbouring fuch as were Jll difpofed to the public gpod. He added very judicioaCy to his requeft that fome reli- gious men and able lawyeps might be fent nim, as the moft effe6|:ual means of intro- ducing, and preferving obedience and order. He then entered into negociatlons with the chiefs of the rebels j he granted them all they demanded, and even invidioufly placed their principal commander, Roldan, in fuch an of- fice as flattered his pride, though without augmenting his power. Thus things were brought into fopiething of regularity, without apy ftruggling or violence j and Roldan him-? felf, though in his former office of chief judge of the ifland, contributed moft of all towards bringing thofe who ftood out to obedience. There arofe a differenpe between them j and they flew again to arms; but on their firft motion, Roldan, by virtue of bis authority,
feijed,
SjETTLCMENTS in AMERICA. 43
(dttdiy Condemned, and executed feveral. By tl^is the reft were awed, all conncxiop broke^ (0 irretrievably, betweeii the head and body of the rebels, and all done without having any part of the offence, *^hat might be give^i by this feverity^ charged to the admiral.
He now began juft to breathe in a little tranquility, acquired by the feverefl labours, whilft a new ftorm was gathering againfl hin^ frQm the quarter of the court. His old im- placable enemies uniting with fome of the re- bels, who had lately tranfported themfelves into Spain, renewed the clamour againfl him. They heaped upon him all manner of calum- nies } they accufed him of a defign of felting yp for himfelf ; .and as they charged him in Hifpaniola with cruelty and tyranny to the In- dians, here they reverfed the charge, and ^Cr cufed him of a popularity ampngft that people, dangerous to his and to their allegiance. They added to thefc, what could not fail to work on national prejudices, th^t Columbus was a ftranger, and had not a proper refpedl for the Spanifh nobility. They complained that great debts were due to them j that all ways of rcr covering them were fhut up. In fhort, the
I* 1 4V»1
king and queen never
went
abroad without
being purfued and periecute4, by the clamour^ of thefe pretended fuitors of juftice. Weariecj out with fuch complaints, they fent a judge, with po\/er to enquire into the admiral's cour
m
44 -/f« Account of the European
dud, and authorized, if he fhould find the accufations proved, to fend him into Spain, and remain himfelf as governor in his room. They made it the judge's intereft to con- demn him.
This judge, who was extremely poor, an4 had no other call but his indigence to un- dertake the office, no fooner landed in Hifpar niola, than he took up his lodging in the adr miraPs houfe, for he w^s then abfent. He next proceeded to fei^e upon all his effedts \ and at lafl fummoned him apd his brothers tQ appear. In the mean time, he encouraged all manner of accufations, without regarding the charader of the accufers, or the probability or confiflency of their accufations. In confer quence of thefe, he apprehended the admiral and his brothers, and with the laft piarks of infult and indignity, loaded them with ironS;j and embarked theni to bp tranfported prifoners into Spain. ,j-,. «^r
The captain of the veffsl, touched with re- fped for the years and great pierit of Colum- bus, offered to take off the irons \ but he di4 not permit it. " Since the Hing has com- manded, that I fhould obey his governor, he fhall find me as obedient to this, as I *• have been to all his other orders. Nothing ** but his commands fhall releafe me. If twelve years hardfhip and fatigue ; if con- tinual daggers and frequent famine \ if the ' '! *? ocean.
(C
<c
cc
<c
m-
tc
C(
<c
ti
€C
«
Sbttlements in Ami:rica. 45
^' ocean^ firft opened, and five times paffed and repaffed, to add a new world abounding with wealth to the Spanifti monarchy 5 and if an i-:firm and premature old aee, brought on by thofe fcrvices, deferve theie chains as " a reward j it is very fit I fliould wear them to Spain, and keep them by me as memo- rials to the end of my life." Great minds, though^ more apt to forgive injuries, perhaps, than common fouk, do not eafily lofe the memory of the wrongs that are done them. Columbus afterwards carried thcfe irons with him wherever he went ; they hung conflantly. in his chamber^ and he or^ dered them to be buried with him. * ^?^Hf}*> The new governor made a more efFedual provifion for the reward of his fervices ; for, befides confifcating the greatefl part of the ad- miral's efFedls, which he converted to his own ufe, to Hatter the people, he^ermitted an un*- bounded liberty, by which he riined the royal revenue, and was near ruining the colony too, pafl all reparation, if the court had not recalled him in time, and fent a perfon to fucceed him of greater judgment and firmnefs, though of little more real virtue, .^x.^^.j
|
.1 «<ii : < ' |
|
|
.^< |
' 1 |
|
CHAP |
t
« 46 \dn Accot/JJT of the European
u^p
.L:}
•»f'
If \
r f.
C ri A P; VI. . ; : -
^he difcoveries ofAmericm Vefputius^ and other ■*■ adventurers. What caufed the Jpirit of dif* '' covery. "'." '"' '"' ' ■ *"■■''■ - -^^ • ' ^ '
ABOUT this time the fpirifc of difco- very began to fpread itfclf widely ; and private adventurers, bbth in Spain and Portu- gal, ftimulated by the gold which from time to time was remitted to Europe by Goiumbus, made equipments at their own expcnce, Ib one of thefe the famous Americus Vefputius commanded i he had got into his hands the charts of Cplifmbus, in bis lafl voyage^ and he failed the fame courfe. But as he was a man of addrefs and great confidence, and was befides an able feaman, and good geographer, he found a way of arrogating to himfelf the iirft difcovcry ^ the continent of America, and called it by his own nan>e ; which it has ever fince retained, though no body has any doubt concerning the real difcovcren For this I believe no other reafon can be given, than that America is perhaps a better founding word than Qolumbia, and is more eaiily pro- nounced with the others, in enumerating the feveral divilions of the earth : a trifling matter, and influenced by trifling caufes. But the glory of Columbus (lands upon foundations of another fort. ;: A : " ') • Pinzon,
.4
! Settlements in America.' 4^
^ flnzon, one who attended the admiral in his firft voyage, equipped a fquaaron at his own expence j and was the firft who croiTed the line at the fide of America, and entered the great river Maranon, or the river of Amazons. , _, ^,.,^_, ;
The Portugtiefe, notwithrtanding the pope's exclufive grant, turned their thoughts to Ame- rica, and difcQvered the Brazils, which make the moft valuable part of their prefent poffef- fions, when they have loft what was confider-* ed as their original right, and which never tvas fo advantageous to them. , .
What animated thefe adventqrers, at the fame time that it fixes a ftain upon all their characters and defigns, is that infatiable tbirft of gold, whiph ever appeared uppermoft in all their anions. This difpofition had been a thoufand times extremely prejtidicial to their affairs : it was particularly the eaufe of all the confufion and rebellions in If Hpaniola : yet it is certain, that if it were not for this incentive, vvhich kindled the fpirit of difcovery and colo* nization firft in Spain and Portugal, and after- wards in all parts of Europe, America had never been in the ftate it now n ; nor would thofc nations ever have had the beneficial colo- nics, which are now eftablifhed in every part of that country. It was necefiary there ihould be fomething of an immediate and uncommon gain, fitted to flrike the imaginations of men
forcibly.
I: ,
48 jin Account of the European
forcibly, to tempt them to fuch hazardous dc- figns. A remote profpedt of commerce, and the improvement of manufadufes, by ex- tending of colonies, would never have an-^ fwered the purpofe ; thofe advantages come to be known only by reafon and deduction, and are not confequently of fo ftriking a nature. But to go out with a few baubles, and to re- turn with a cargo of gold, is an objedt readi- ly comprehended by any body, and was con- fequently purfued with vigour by all. The fpeculativc knowledge of trade, made no part of the ftudy of the elevated or thinking part of mankind, at that time. Novir it may be jufWy reckoned amongft the liberal fciences ; and it makes one of the moft coniiderable branches of political knowledge. Commerce was then in the hands of a few, great in its profits, but confined in its nature. What we call the ballance of trade, was far from being well underflood $ all the laws relative to com^ iiierce were every where but fo many clogs upon it. The impofls and duties charged on goods, were laid on without diftindtion or judgment. Even amongft ourfelves, the moft trading and reafoning people in Europe, right notions of thefe matters began late, and ad- vanced flowly. Our colonies were fettled without any view to thofe great advantages which we draw from them. Virginia was conftru^ted out pf the wrecks of an armament Mdiyj^i deftined
Settlements in America. 49
deftined on a golden adventure, which firf): tempted us to America. And thofc who fet- tled New England and Maryland, meant them only as afylums from religious perfecution. So that if America had not promifed fuch an in- undation of treafure, it could only have fup- plied a languid commerce, which would have habituated the natives by degrees to our Eu- ropean manners, and fupplied them with eqviiai arms. Then it would have been next to impoffible to have ii^«de thofe extenfive fettlements in that new world. So certain it is, that we often reap differently from what we have fown ^ and that there mufl be fome ftrong aftive principle to give life and energy to all deiigns, or they will languifh, l^t th^tn 1^^ ever fo wifely concerte4t
! S
Vqu I,
£
CHAP.
hi
JO jin Account o/" ^i< European
CHAP. VII. .
Columbus again acquitted. Undertakes a fourth voyage. Difcovers the coaji of Terra Firma and the ijihmus of Darien, Returns to Hif paniola. His reception there. Purfues bis difcoveries tg the coafl of Terra Firma. He is driven to Jamaica^ and Jhipwrecked on that ijland. His di/irejfes there. The rebel- lion of his men^ which he fupprejfes. He leaves the ijland and returns to Sp(iin. His reception there. He ^ies.
NO fboncr was Columbus arrived in Spain, in this difgraceful manner, than the court difavowed, and highly blamed the con- f3uft of their governor. And now, according to the giddy cuftom of men, who adt with- out plaji or principle, fhey acquitted Colum- bus of all the charges againft him, with as little enquiry into their validity, as they before ufed when upon the fame charges they un- juftly condemned him. Reftitution and re- ward were profnifed him, and he wanted ve- ry few incendves to engage once more in dif- coveries. Eis ambition was to arrive at the Eaft-Indies, and fo to furround the globe. This had really an influence upon his own mind, and he knew nothing could fo much Influence thofe of the ting and queen. Oq
Settlements in America. ^j
this profpedl he was again fitted out with 4 fleetj promifmg to reduce both Eaft and Weft- Indies, under the dominion of their Catholic niajefties. * * -.r -.i-n .: ■■.
He embarked upon his fourth voyage in May 1502. His defign was to ftand dire(flly for the coaft of South- America, and keep along the Northern fliore until he ihould come to the place where he heard an obfcure ac- count of fome narrow ftreight, (whether a ftreight or ifthmus was not fo clear from the accounts he had) 5 and by this, if a ftreight, he hoped to pafs into the great South-Sea, After fo very long a voyage as his had been to America, and the difcovery of a continent which was not that of India, nor that of China 5 he faw clearly that the maps were no longer in the leaft to be relied on ; he there- fore depended folely upon his own ideas. He reviewed the bearings of all the countries which his former experience, or his late dif- covcries had opened to him ; he confidered the figure of the earth in general 5 he reafon- ed upon the ballance and diftribution of the land and water 5 and comparing all thefe hq concluded, that beyond the continent he had difcovered was another ocean, probably as great or greater than that he had formerly pafled ; if this were fo, then it was probablef too that thefe oceans had fome communica- tiQji, He judged it to be near thoft places
'■A
52 An Account oj the European
fince called Vcragua and Nombrc deDiosj but not thinking his (hips fit for that voyage, he propofed to put into Hifpaniola to refit, ^nd to make fome new difpofitions.
Columbus, whilft he navigated and rcfided in the Weft-Indies, was extremely diligent in his obfervations upon the nature of the air, the feafons, the meteors, rains and winds ; and how each of thefe feemed to affe<fl the others ; npr was he lefs fagacious in drawing progtioftlcs from the remarkable appearances in all J at this time he judged from obferva- tions that a great hurricane w^s approaching. iBefore he entered the harbour he notified his arrival to Obando the governor, with the na- ture of his delign and the condition of his VefTels ; defiring at the fame time that the fleet which he undcrftood to be on the ppini of letting fail for Europe, fliould in confi- deration of the approaching hurricane defer their departure for fome days. But it was his deftiny that ingratitude" fhould purfue him every where, and perfecute him iri every fhape. For the governor, without any caufe, not only refufed to hearken to his ad- Vice about the failing of the fliips, but ab- folutely denied him permiflion to enter into harbour, to fave his life in that ifland which he himfelf had difcovered and fubdued. He had nothing to do but to draw up as clofe to the fhore as he could. The ftorm came * on
<i
Settlements in America^ $i
ion the next night, but Providence favour- ing his innocence, and affifling his capacity^ brought him fafc through it, though as ter- rible a florm as had ever happened in thofe ieas. The fleet of twenty fail, which againft his advice had put to fea, fufFered the pu- nifhttient due to their temerity. Only four eicaped the ftorm, lixteen perifhed. Amongft thofe which were loft, was the fhip which parried back that governor to Spain, who had fent Columbus thither in fo oppreflivd and fcandalous a manner ; amongft the four that were faved, was one that had on board fome treafure, all that could be refcucd front the pillage of the admiral's fortune. So that whilft he was mortified at this (hameful in- ftance of human ingratitude, Heavien feem* ed to declare in his favour, and to condemn and punirti it. His charader was highly raifed by the prediction of the ftormi and by his behaviour in it ; for to his, and his bro- ther's good condud, the fafety" of his little fleet was juftly attributed. His brother was a navigator and philofopher, fecond only to the admiral, very ufeful to his affans, and a comfort and affiftance in all his misfortunes, by his capacity and the goodnefs of his heart.
After he had weathered the florm he left this ifland, in which he had fo furprizing an inftance of ingratitude, in purfuit of more matter to employ it. In this voyage he dif-
E 3 covered
54 ^^ Account of the European covered all the coaft of Terra Firma to thdf ifthmus of Darien, where he hoped to have found a paffage to the South-Sea. In this he was difappointed, but he was not difappointed in the other part of his ptojedt j for every where as he advanced, he became more fen- fible of the value of his difcoveries on the continent. He found a people more civilized and more abounding in gold than the ifland-^ ers. He entered a harbour, which from its excellence he called Porto Bello, well known fince a$ one of the greateft openings by which the Spaniffi commerce is carried on between the two worlds. Here the admiral defigned to eftablifh ai colony, under the command of fiis brother^ pfopofing to return to Europe himfelf to obtain the requiiites for a compleat fettlement. But the avarice and infolence of his men rdfed the counti^y upon him, and obliged him to relinquifh his defign, without having an opportunity of doing any thing more than fhewing his judgment in the choice of the fituation, and his own and brother's bravery in extricating their men from the ca- lamities in which their folly had involved them.
Driven from hence, and finding his veflels in fo bad a condition, that it was by no means^ advifeable to proceed upon further difcoveries, he quitted the continent, after having difco- vered the Eaftern fide of the ifthmns of Da- rien*
Sbttiements In America! ^j;
fien, and the whole fhore as far as Gracios o Dios in the gulph of Honduras. He then flood over to Hifpaniola. His voyage was made under a thoufand difficulties of the fe- vereft kind ; the velTeh fo lealcy, that the crew had not a mon^ent's refpite from the pump, and fcarce any provifion remairing to refefh therii after their labours. To compleat the fum of their calamities a violent ftorm arofe, in which the fhips fell foul of one an- other. But though hej providentially wea^ thered this ftorm, it was now fcarcely poffible to keepf hi6 {hip above water, and he was glad to make Jamaica, where he was a fecond time reKet^d from the grcateft dangers and diftreiles. / •- • ^ •-
But a dirtrefs of alnSoft as bad a nature ex-* ercifed his invention here. His fhips werd abfolutely unfit for fcrvice beyond all poflibi- lity of being repaired ; no means of getting new J the inhabitants fufpicious, and the ill behaviour of his men gave daily occafion to increafe thole fufpicions. In this diftrefs, he J:-revailed upon fome of the hardieft and mofl faithful of them to pafs over in a canoo to Hifpaniola, to reprefcnt his calamitous fitua- tion tei the governor, and to beg vcHels to carry them off.
Eight months did the admiral remain In this ifland, without the leaft intelligence from his meffcngers, or affiftance from the governor.
E 4 The
■' If
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56 'An Account" of the European
The natives' grew exafperated at the delay di the Spaniards, and the weight of fubfifting them, which was a heavy burthen on the po- verty of the Indians. Provifions therefore came in very fparingly. Things even threat- ened to grow much worfe 5 for the feamen, who are at beft unruly, but think that all dif- cipline ceafes the moment they fet foot oii land, mutinied in great numbers. By this mutiny the admiral's authority and ftrcngth was coniiderabty weakened, whilft the natives were exafperated by the diforders of the mu-* tineers \ but Columbus found means to reco-^ ver his authority, at leaft among the Indians^ Knowing there would /hortly be a vifiblo eclipfe of the moon, he fummoned the prin-* cipal perfons in the ifland \ and by one who underdood their language told them, that the God whom he ferved, and who created and preferves all things in heaven and earth, provoked at their refufing to fupport his fer- vants, intended a fpeedy and fevere judgment upon them, of which they (hould fliortly fee manifeft tokens in the heavens, for that the moon would, on the night he marked, ap- pear of a bloody hue, an emblem of the de- ftrudtion that was preparing for them. His prediction , which was ridiculed for the time, when it came to be accompliflied ftruck the barbarians with great terror. They brought him plenty of provifions 5 they fell at his feet, , - and
fiEtTLENiENTS in AmERICA* 57
ftnd befought him in the moft fupplicating ilile to deprecate the evils which threatened them. He took their proviiions, comforted them, and charged them to attone for their paft fin by their future generofity. ^ r
He had a temporary relief by this ftrata- gem, but he faw no profpedt of getting out of the ifland, and purfuing thofe great pur-> pofes to which he had devoted his life. The mutiny of his men was in danger of growing general, when every thing lt*:med to be fet- tled by the fight of a (hip in the harbour, fent by Obando, the governor of Hifpaniola. The governor refolved not only to abandon, but to infuh this great man in his misfortunes $ the captain of the veffel was a mortal enemy to the admiral, and one of the perfons prin-^ cipally concerned in thofe rebellions, which had formerly given him fo much trouble* The defign of this captain was only to be a witnefs of the diftrefs of his affairs ; for he came aOiore^ forbidding his crew all manner of communication with the admiral or his men ; and after delivering to Columbus ah empty letter of compliment, embarked with- out even flattering him with the lead hope of relief. , -
1 hus abandoned, his firmnefs and prefence of mind alone did not forfake him. The arrival of this fhip for a moment reconciled his men to obedience ; but when they faw it
depart,
5^ An Account of the European
depart, they were almoft unanimoufly oft the point of fhaking off all authority, and abandoning themfelves to the moft defperate tourfes. The admiral, without betraying the leaift fign of difappointment or grief, told them in a ehearful manner, that he had a promife of an immediate fupply ; that he did not de-^ part in this fhip, becaufe (he was too fmall to cany off all the Spfeaniards who were with him ; and that he was refolved not to leave the ifknd until every man of thehi might en- joy the fame conveniency. The eafy and compofed air of the admiral himfelf, and the care he manifefted for his people, fupe« rior to his own prefcrvation, reconciled their minds, and made them attend their fate with patience. But he knew his delay might be very tedious in this ifland, and that as long as there remained a receptacle to whkh every ill humour amongfl his men might gather, his affairs would grow worfe every day. He found thofe that ftill adhered to him firmly attached to his caufe \ he therefore came to a refolution of taking vigorous meafures with the reft. He fent his brother, a fenfible and refolute man, with a proper force, and well armed, to treat with them j and in cafe of obftinacy to compel them to obedience. They met, and the captain of the mutineers, grown infolent with a long courfe of licentioufnefs and rapine, not only rejected the admiral's
propofal.
Settlements in AmericAI 59
ffOpofal, but offered violence to his brother ; who ufing this as a fignal to his men, pre- pared for fnch an incident, they fell upon the rebels with fo much refolution, that ten lay dead in a moment with their chief j difor- dered by the unexpeifled attack, the reft fled, and foon after were obliged to fubftiit.
Thus the admiral pacified every thing with equal f|)irit and addrefs, fometimes giving way to the ftorm, and temporizing when he doubt- ed his ftrength ; but when he was aflured of it, always employing it with refolution and cffedt ; turning every incident, even the moft Unfavourable, to his advantage 5 and watch- ing every change of nature, and every mo- tion of the human mind, to employ them in his purpofes. It is the principal thing which forms the character of a great man, to be rich in expedients ; the ufe Columbus made of the eclipfe was truly ingenious. It may be faid, that fuch a thing cannot be imitated amongft a civilized people. I grant it. But the way to imitate great men is not to tread in their fteps, but to walk in their manner. There is no people who have not fome points of ig- norance, weaknefs, or prejudice, which a pe- netrating mind may difcover, and ufe as the moft powerful inftruments in the execution of his defigns. Such a knowledge as this, is the only thing which gives one man a real fuperiority over another \ and he who under- ...^. (lands
6o Ah Account of the European
/lands the paffions of men, and can entirely command his own, has the principal means of fubduing them in his hands.
The admiral might have fpent his whole life in this miferable exile, if a private man, moved with efleem for his merit, and com- paiiion to his misfortunes, had not fitted out a fhip for his relief. This brought him to Hifpaniola. The governor, who refufed to contribute any thing to his coming, when he came received him with that overadted com- plaifance and fhpw of friendship, which fi> often fucceeds the greatefl infolence in bafe minds, and which they pradife with fo little fhame and remorfe to the perfons they have before loaded vvith the greatcft injuries. The admiral bore this like every thing elfe ^ and convinced that a difpute with a governor in his own jurifdid^ion would bring him little advantage or honour, he haftened every thing for his departure to Spain, where he arrived after a voyage in which he was tofied by irofl terrible ftorms, and failed feven hundred leaf^ues after he had lofl his main-maft.
He was now grown old, and fevercly af- flidted with the gout. The queen his par tronefs was dead ; and the king, of a clofe and difl'embling difpofition, and a narrovy mind, was the only perfon he had to footh his misfortunes, or pay the reward which was due to his labours. But he received neitheir
comfort
Settlements in America^ 6i
comfort nor reward. The performance of his contradt was deferred upon frivolous pre- tences ; and he employed the clofe of his life, as he had done the a^ive part of jt, in a court follicitation ; the moft grievous of all employ- nients to any man, the moft bopelefs to an old man. Vanquished at laft by years, fa- tigues, and difappointments, he died with thofe fentiments of piety, which fupported him through the misfortunes of his life, and added a finishing, which nothing elfe coulcj give to his greatnefs of mind, and all hi^ other virtues
CHAP. VIII.
. . .'■
^he charaBer of Columbus, Borne refleBlom on the condu6i of the court of Spain,
HEncefbrward, in treating of the pro- grefs of the Spanlfh difcoveries apd arms, inftead of defigns laid in fcience, j^nd purfued with a benevolent heart and gende meafures ; we are but too often to (hew an pnthufiaftic avarice,- urging men forward to every a<5l of cruelty and horror. The cha- rader of this firft difcoverer was extremely different from that of all with whom he dealt, and from that of moft of thofe who purfued his difcoveries and conquefts \ fome with a vigour and conduct equal; but all with
virtues
62 An Account of the European
virtues very much inferior. In his charader hardly is any one of the components of a truly great man wanting. For to the ideas of the moft penetrating philofopher, and a fcheme built upon them worthy of a great king, he joined a conftancy and patience, which alone could carry it into execution, with the forr tune of a private man. Continual florms at fea, continual rebellions of a turbulent people on fhore, vexations, difappointments, and ca- bals at court, were his lot all his life ; and thefe were the only reward of fervices, whiph no favours could have rewarded fuifficiently. His magnanimity was proof againft all of thefe, and his genius furmounted all the difficulties they threw in his way, except that of his pay- ment, the point in which fuch men ever meet with the worft fuccefs, and urge with the lead ability. That furprizing art, poffeffed by fo few, of making every accident an inftrument in his defigns ; his nice adjuflment of his be- haviour to his circumftances, temporizing, or adting vigoroufly as the occafion required, and never letting the pccafion itfelf pafs by him ; the happy talent of concealing and governing his own paffions, and managing thofe of others j all thefe confpire to give us the highefl idea of his capacity. And as for his virtues, his difinterefted behaviour., his unmoveable fide- lity to the ungrateful crown he ferved, the juft policy of his dealing with the Indians,
Settlements in America. 63
bis caution againft giving them any offence, jand his tender behaviour to them when con- quered, which merited him the glorioug title of their father, together with his zeal to have them inftrudled in the truths of religion, raife him to the elevated rank of thofe few men whom we ought to confider as examples to mankin4, and ornaments to human nature.
I hope it will be forgiven me, if I add a remark upon the condudt of the court of Spain with regard to this great man. Thpugh, as we faw all along, this condudt was equally unjuft and impolitic, forry I am, that no lef- foh of inftrudtion can be drawn from the CveAt, which was in all refpeds as fortunate, as the ineafures purfued were ungrateful and imprudent. But there was a coincidence of events at that time, which does not always happen fo opportunely to juftify an ungrate- ful and narrow policy. It is certain that fome men arc fo pofleffed with their defigns, that when once engaged, nothing can difcourage them in the purfuit. But great and frequent difcouragements are examples to others, which will at leaft certainly have an cffedt, and will terrify men from forming fuch defigns at all. Then the fpirit of invention an ^ enterprizc dies away j then things begin to ftagnate and to corrupt ; for it is a rule as invariable in po- litics as it is in nature, that a want of proper potion does not breed reft and ftability, but a
fnotioi^
64 An Account of the European
motion of another kind ; a motion unfeen and intefline, which does not preferve but deftroy. The beft form and fettlement of a ilate, and every regulation within it, obeys the fame univerfal law ; and the only way to prevent all things from going to decay, is by continually aiming to better them in fome re- fpedl or other ; (fincc if they arc not better, they will furely be worfe,) and to afford an attentive ear to every projeft for this purpofe. I am fenfible that it muil frequently happen^ that many of thefe projeds will be chimerical in themfelves, and offered by a people of an appearance and manner not very prejudicing in their favour. But then I am fatisfied too, that thefe men muft in the nature of things have fomething odd and fingular in their cha- radter, who expofe themfelves, and defert the common and certain roads of gaib, in purfuit of advantages not certain to the public, and extremely doubtful to themfelves.
It is equally true, that if fuch people are encouraged, a number of vifionary fchemes will be offered. But it is the charadler of pride and lazinefs to rejedt all offers, becaufe fome are idle, as it is of weaknefs and credu- lity to liflen to all without diflindtion. But furely, if judgment is to have any (hare in our condudb, it is the province of judgment to fift, to examine, to diflinguifh the ufeful from the foolifli, the feafible from th^ impradti-
" c^ble^
Settlements in America.^ 65
cable, and even in the mid ft of the vifions of a fruitful and difordered brain, to pick out matter which a wife man will know how to qualify and turn to ufe, though the inventor did not. Cromwell, partly from his circum- ftanccs, but more from his genius and difpo- iition, received daily a number of propofals of this kind, which always approached him in a fanatical drefs, and were mixed frequent- ly with matters the moft remote from proba- bility and good fenfe ; and we know that he made a fignal ufe of many things of this kind.
Colbert fpent much of his time in hearing every fcheme for the extending of commerce, the improvement of mai)ufa(ftures, and the advancement of arts j fpared no pains or ex- pence to put them in execution, and bounti- fully rewarded and encouraged the authors of them. By thefe means France advanced du- ring the reign of Lewis the fourteenth, and under this minifter more than it had done in many reigns before ; and by thefe means, in the midft of wars, which brought that king- dom and all Europe to the brink of deftruc- tion ; amidft many defaults in the royal cha- racter, and many errors in his government, a feed of induftrpand enterprize was fown, which on the firft refpite of the public cala- mities, and even whilft they oppreiTed that nation, rofe to produce that flourifliing inter- nal and external commerce and power, that
Vol. I. F diftin-
Im
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66 An Account of the European diftingui(hes France, and forms its ftrcngth at this day, though a lefs adive reign, and mi- nifters of a different charadber have fuccecded. On the contrary, it was always the charadter of the court of Spain to proceed very flowly, if at all, in any improvement 5 and to receive fchemes for that purpofe with coldnefs and difdain. The effedls upon tb^: power of that monarchy were at laft aniwerable. With re- gard to America, the conquefl as well as the difcovery was owing wholly to private men ; the court contributed nothing but pretenfions and patents.
CHAP. IX.
7he difcoveries and conquefts of Balboa. Ve- lafquez fends Cortes on the Mexican expedition, 7he ftate of the Mexican empire. Cortes makes an alliance with the Tlafcalans,
AN ancient painter drew a fatyrical pic- ture of Cimon the Athenian. He re- prefented this commander afleep, and Fortune drawing a net over cities to put them into his poffe/Iion. There never were princes to whom this reprefentation could be applied with more juflice, than to king Ferdinand and his fucceffor the emperor Charles. Without forming any plan in the cabinet, without ifluing a penny out of their treafury, without
fending
■ V4J11W-
Settlements in America. 67
fending a regiment from their troops, private adventurers amongft their fubjedls put them into pofleffion of a greater, ami a more weal- thy territory, than ever the moft celebrated conquerors had acquired by their valour, or their wifdom. Nor was this conqueft more extraordinary for the trivial means by which it was accomplished, than for the (hortnefs of the time in which it was efFefted j for from the departure of Columbus, which was in the year 1492, to the entire redudlion of Chili, which was in 154I1 feven great kingdoms, inhabited by a vaft number of warlike and wealthy nations, were made to bow under the Spanifh yoke. After the difcoveries of Co- lumbus had enlarged the fphere of induftry to adtive minds, fuch a fpirit of enterprize went abroad, that not only thofe perfons whofc indigence might have driven them from their native country, but perfons of the firft rank went over to fettle in America. Gold was the fpur to all thofe adventurers, of whatever rank j and this with a romantic fpirit of chivalry, made the greateft hazards appear but common matters in their eyes. And indeed in a country wholly uncivilized, under the burning zone, and in many places extremely unhealthy, the temperance of the Spaniards, their hardinefs under fatigue, and the patience and perfeverance which make the moft fliining part of their charader, en^ ■ ' ' ' F 2 abled
■|1
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68 An Account of the European abled them to engage in enterprizes, and to furmount difficulties, to which any otiier peo- ple had certainly been unequal.
Vafco Nunez de Balboa made a confider- able figure amongft thefe adventurers j he was a man of a graceful prefence, a liberal education, an hardy conftitution, and that kind of popular bravery, which recommends a man who engages in defperate expeditions, where he muft have more authority from his perfon than his place. This man firft fur- rounded Cuba, conquered, and left it. He did not there find the treafures which he ex- pedled. He therefore relinquiftied the glean- ings of this field to thofe who had a more moderate ambition, and a more faving induf- try. He fought new ground, he followed the tracks of Columbus to Darien, gained the friendHiip of fome of the Gaziques, and conquered others. He was thf; firft who dif- covered the South-Sea. He fettled a colony upon that coaft, and built the city of Panama. But according to the fate of all the firft ad- venturers in this new world, indeed according to ,he fate of moft who engage in new un- dertakings, he never lived to reap the fruit of his labours. He found himfclf fuperfeded by one who had only difcernment enough of his merit to raife his jealoufy and envy, and who could make no other ufe of the difcove- ries of this great man, than to incrcafe his
own
Settlements in America. 69
own private fortune. This man was a poli- tician and a courtier, itnd having in feveral in- flances bafely injured Balboa, he was too wife to ftop there, but under a pretended form of juftice cut off his head, and confifcated his eflate.
Some time after the fettlement of Cuba, Don James Velafquez obtained the govern- ment J a man of good fenfe in common affairs, but fo much miftaken, as to imagine he could adt a great part by deputy ; and that too in cir- cumftances, wherein a man who had but little capacity could do him but little fervice, and he that could do much would certainly do it for himfelf. The continent of America was now very well known, and the fame of the greatnefs and wealth of the Mexitan empire Ipread every where. This infpired Velafquez with a fcheme of reducing fome part of this opulent country under his obedience. He pitched upon Hernando Cortes to command in this expedition, in which he certainly made a very right judgment. There was no man amongft the Spaniards, who to an adventur- ous difpolition, then common to them all, knew fo well to join a cool and ileady con- dudt, to gain love whilft he prefervcd rcfped; not to (hift his fchemes according to occafions, but perfifting uniformly in a well-judged de- fign, to make every inferior acflion and event fubfervient to it j to urge ftill forward ; to ex-
F 3 trigate
70 An Account of the European
tricate himfelf out of difficulties into which he was brought by bold adlions, not by mean fubterfuges, but by anions yet bolder. This was the charadler of the man already in high reputation, whom Velafquez chofc to conquer for him.
The embarkment was made at St. Jago dc Cuba, and Cortes was to take in fome rein- forcements at the Havanna. But he was hard- ly departed, when Velafquez grew jealous of him ; and without confidering that Cortes was of that heroic difpofition, in which a blind obedience is rarely a principal ingredient, he took the ill-judged ftep of removing him from the command of an army, which in fome fort might be confidered as liis own, iince he had much influence on the foldiers, and that a confiderable part of the expence of the ar- mament had been fupplied by himfelf. When thij; order, which was to deprive him of his command, arrived to Cortcj, he was not long before he came to a refolution. He explained the whole matter to his foldiers ; he fhewed them how uncertain the intentions of Velaf- quez were, and how much all their hopes were like to be fruftrated by the inconftancy of his difpofition. The event was prepared. The foldiers declared to a man, that they were fubjedts only to the king of Spain, and knew no commander but Cortes. The army and the generaJ, thus bound to each other by their mutual difobedience, failed for Mexico.
The
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SETttfeMENts in America. '^i
Th6 empire of Mexico was at that time governed by a prince called Montezuma, the eleventh who reigned from the firft monarch who had conquered the country. The em- pire was eledtive, and the merit of Monte- zuma had procured him the eledlion. A prince of capacity and courage, but artful, hypocri- tical, and cruel. This empire, founded on conqu^rt, was increafed by his vidlories. By himlclf, or by his generals, he had abfolutely fubdued feveral kingdonis and provinces ; fe- veral were made tributary, and others, which were not abfolutely fubdued, wer6 influenced by his power to an entire obedience to his will. His armies were the befl in that part of the world, and p^odigioully numerous. In this iituation, and fo headed was the empire of the Mexicans, when Cortes came to prove its ftrength, with an army of no more than five hundred foot, and not quite fixty horfe. He did not come a flranger into the country, to encounter a force which he dared to en- gage only bceaufe he was ignorant of it. He had long thade every pofliblc enquiry from the Sp&niards and Indians into every circumftance of its internal weakncfs or power j its allies, its enemies, and the interefts which deter- mined them to be allies or enemies. Weigh- ing all thefe, and knowing, that along with great hopes, great dangers likewife lay before him, he made his retreat yet more dangerous
F 4 by
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72 An Account of the European
by his difobedience to the governor of Cuba ; and when he landed on the continent, he made it impollible, for he burned his fhips. But though he had made a retreat impoflible, he had fomething elfe to encourage him to go forward, than the impofiibility cf retiring. He had great hopes that many of thefe ftates, who were kept in a forced fubjedlion, or a flavifli dread of Montezuma, would gladly turn this new and alarming appearance from themfelves againft that monarch, and under the banner of thefe formidable ftrangers, arm themfelves to (hake off the ancient tyranny, which always appears the worft, without forefeeliig ronfequences, to which more civi- lized nations have frequently been as blind as they. It happened according to his expec- tations.
The Zempoallans, a nation tribu ary to Montezuma, as foon as they had furiicient proofs of the power of the Spaniards, at the expence of feveral of their neighbours, who attempted to oppofe their progrefs, threw off the Mexican yoke, gladly put themfelves un- der the protedion of Cortes, and earned it by the large reinforcements which they added to his army. Montezuma was foon made ac- quainted with thefe meafures. For according to the cuftom of* « . well-regulated kingdom, he had pofts fo ftationed, that in a little time he had notice of whatever happened in the
I remote
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Settlements in America. 73
remote parts of his empire. The difpatches which were fent 1 im, were painted cloaths, cxadtly reprefenting every circumftance of the bufinefs of which he was to be informed ; the figures were interfperfed with characters to explain what muft necefTarily be wanting in the pi<flure. So far, but no farther, had this people advanced in the art of writing. As well informed as the emperor was of every particular of this invafion, and of the defec- tion of his tributaries, he adted not at all con- formably to thegrcatnefs of hisformer exploits. He took the worft method which a great prince ever did upon fuch an otcafion, which was, to temporize. He let the Spaniards fee, by fome trifling arts which he ufed to oppofe them, that he did not look upon them as his friends, and at the fame time negledled to adt againfl them as fo formidable an enemy re- quired. They made daily advances in the country. His enemies were encouraged, his tributaries made infolent, and his fubjedts and allies utterly difpirited ; whilft the Spa- niards, in a variety of engagements, which they had with the petty princes of the coun- try, raifed their reputation by a train of vic- . tories, and began to be confidered as invinci- ble. Cortes, like the great commander he was, took advantage of this irrefolute difpo- fition in Montezuma, and ufed every pollible means to cherifti it. He always fsnt back - .^ what
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74 ^n Account of the European vhat prifoners his new allies had taken, with prcfcnts, and every profeffion of efteem and regard to their mafter> and with the ftrongefl aiTurances of a defire of preferving peace ; requefting to fee Montezuma, and to confer with him upon fome matters which he faid he had in charge to deliver to hint from his mafter the emperor of the Romans.
There was at that time a celebrated repub- lic on the coafll of Mexico, towards the gulph, called Tkfcala. This people were faid to be fo powerful, as to be able to arm four hundred thoufand men. Powerful as they were, though not fubdued, they were yet awed by the great-^ nefs of the Mexicans. This awe, or perhaps a better policy, induced them to give a check to the Spaniard*. Bu€ in the manner of Mon- tezuma's proceedings they would not oppofc them publicly, and therefore could not op- pofe them effectually. Some nations, on whom they had prevailed to fall upon the Spaniards, were over and over again defeated, together with thofe troops the Tlafcalans had fent clandellinely to their afTiftancc. At laft, by degrees, declaring themfelves more open- ly, as the danger preiTcd them, they drew a large army into the field, which was routed by the troops of Cortes j few indeed in num- ber, but infinitely fuperior in arms, and now grown familiar with victory. The conil » quencc of this battle was the alliance of the
Tlaf.
Settlements in America. 75
Tlafcalans with their conqueror, which they- entered into with the lefs diBculty, a& they were to ferve againft the Mexicans, and might now hope to Icrve with fuccefs. Cortf% however, did not chufe to truft this untried and forced alliance too far, nor at the fame time to deprive himfelf entirely of the fuc- cour it produced. He therefore took a mid- dle courfe, and accepting three thoufand of their men, he held on his rout to Mexico^
i
CHAP. X.
Cortes builds La Vera Cruz, He marches to Mexico. His reception by Mmtezuma. Cor- tes imfrifons Montezuma. That prince's flra-- tagem to gain his liberty i the confequence of
it.
BEFORE Cortes began his expedition to Mexico, he had built a ftrong fortrefs at the principal port on the coaft, to open a paf- fage for faccours, whenever his fuccefs fhould make iniereft enough to procure them. This he called La Vera Cruz, and it has fincc be- come a city, remarkable for the great traffic carried on between thcfe opulent countries and Old Spain.
During the Tlafcalan war, in which the Spaniards fuffered fomething, and had every thing to apprehend, Montezuma took no
ileps,
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76 ^n Account of the European
ilcps, but lay by watching the event, in hopes that the TlaJfcalans might defeat the troops of Cortes at their own expence j or if the Spa- niards proved vidtorious, he might then have the merit of not having ufed hoftilities againft them. He loft both parties by this double condudl ; fuch an infidious neutrality betrays nothing but the weak policy of him who ufes it. However, as ii fair correfpondence ftill fubfifted between them, he ufed every means he could to diffuade Cortes from his propofed journey to Mexico. At laft he took a ftep, worfe judged than all the bad ones he had hitherto taken. He fent to thi^ Spaniards a very large and magnificent prefent, of every thing his dominions afforded valuable, but principally a vaft quantity of gold and preci- ous ftones ; offering at the fame time yet more, and perfuading them to return to their own country. If any perfon in the army was unwilling before this to proceed, he now changed his mind. All were convinced that they ought to advance with fpeed to pofTefs the fountain of that wealth, of which this rich donation was but an inconfiderable rivulet. Montezuma, baffled in all his fchemes to keep the Spaniards at a diftance, having ufed himfelf to (hifting meafures, until they were in a degree grown habitual, found Cortes at the gates of Mexico before he was rcfolved how he (hould receive him. It was now
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Settlements in America. 77
almoft too late for force. He therefore dif- fembled his concern with the bed grace he could, and received him with all the honours a monarch can beftow, when he would difplay his own magnificence, and (hew his fenfe of extraordinary merit. Cortes was lodged in a palace fpacious and grand, after the manner of the country. All his Spani- ards were lodged with him ; but he took care to place a train of artillery at his gate.
Thus ported without a blow in the heart of this great city, the capital of the new world, he was for a while at a lofs what meafures to purfue, for fecuring himfelf in a conqiieft of fuch importance. Having received more than he could reafonably have afked, there was no caufe of complaint, and confequently no advantage to be colourably taken. He had only to wait for fome of thofe critical incidents, upon whofe ufe all great matters depend, and without which the greateft genius muft be at a ftand. It was not long before one of thefe occurred.
Two Tlafcalans arrived in difguife at Mexico, who brought him an account that a general of Montezuma had attacked fome of his confederate Indians; that the garrifon of Vera Cruz had gone out to their defence; and that though the Mexicans were rcpulfed with lofs, the Spaniards were greatly endan- gered, many wounded, and one killed, whofe
head,
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78 j^n Account of the European
head, by the order of Montezuma, was carri- ed through all the cities and villages of their country, to deftroy the reverence in which they held the Spaniards, and to undeceive them in a notion they had conceived, that thefe ftrangers were immortal. This iin.el- ligence alarmed Cortes. He knew that opi- nion was one of the ftrongeft fupporters of his little force; that things of this kind never flop at their beginnings; that Montezuma, while he carefled him in his city, was disjoin- ing his allies, and dillrefling his garrifon abroad; and that no time was to be lofl in dilatory counfels; that he mud keep alive the memory of his former exploits. He therefore took a refolution worthy of a brave man, in a difficulty made for his capacity. He armed himfelf in the beft manner, and with five of the mod faithful and beft refol- ved of his officers, went diredly to the palace of Montezuma. Thirty of his men attend* ed at fome diftance. Guards of Spaniards were placed at the principal avenues to the palace.
It was ufual for Montezuma's guards to withdraw, out of refpedl, when he had any conference with Cortes. On this occafion, as foon as he was admitted to audience, he charged the emperor with the outrages com- mitted by his order:, in terms of great rcfent- ment. The emperor difavows them. But
Cortes,
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Setttements in America, 79
Cortes, after having paid him the compli- ment of not fuppofmg him capable of fo mean a diffimulation, afllired him, that he was himfelf entirely fatisfied of his inno- cence : but that others had fears which were not eafily removed; that to fatisfy the Spani- ards, he muft give fome folid proof of his confidence in them; which he could effec- tually do no otherwife than by his removing without delay to their quarters. A requeft of this nature ftartled Montezuma, who never was ufed to any voice but that of the humbled fubmiflion. However, he faw plainly that Cortes did not make fo extraordinary a requeft, but with a refolution of making it be com- plied with. He faw the neceffity, and he yielded to it.
Thus was the metropolis of a vaft and powerful empire, inhabited by an innume- rable multitude of warlike people, entered without refiftance by an handful of men, who came to overturn its liberty. And thus was one of the greateft princes on earth, renowned for his wifdom and valour, feized in his palace, in the midft of his capital, at noon-day, and carried prifoner without noife or violence, by fix perfons, to be difpofed of at their pleafure.
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80 An Account of the European furrounded the quarters of the Spaniards to punifli this facrilege, and refcue their captive prince. But Cortes, who well underftood the confequence of the fteps he had taken, was not alarmed. He knew that he had now in his hands an engine, which was capable of doing any thing. Montezuma went out to appeafe the people, aflured them that he was there of choice, and (which was true) that the Spaniards were wanting in no inftance of refpedt due to his charadler and dignity.
This appeafed and difperfed the people. But Montezuma, whoie unfortunate cir- cumftances obliged him to adt as an inftru- ment to his own captivity, could enjoy no reft, though allowed the attendance of the principal officers of his court, and indulged by the Spaniards in every thing but his li- berty. Long revolving, he at laft contrived a fcheme, which he judged, without his appearing to concur with them, might alarm his fubjedts with a fenfe of their danger, or oblige the Spaniards to depart by the reafon- ablenefs of his propofals. He had always liberty of going abroad with a guard of Spa- niards under pretence of doing him honour. He now dedred to hold a council of the ftates of his empire, that in concurrence they might fatisfy Cortes and his aflbciates ip the ampleft manner. This council was conve- ned,
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Settlements in America*' 8t
h'ci, in which Montezuma, in a premedita- ted fpeech, fet forth the origin of his nation; the prophecies extant among them, that a people of the fame race fhould arrive, to whom this empire {hould be fubje(fl5 that the people were now arrived who were the object of thofe prophecies, and fprung from this origin, to whom the gods had deftined univerfal empire, and who, by their great accomplifhments and fur prizing bravery, me- rited their high deftination: then he fo- lertinly '^x-elared himfelf tributary to the enl- peror of the Romans; he exhorted his peopk on their part to a due obedience; and ended by telling them, that as he had himfelf pre- pared a prefent froni his treafures worthy of this emperor, he expected that every one of them, in proportion to his ability, would teftify his loyalty to their new mafter, and his regard to the merit of his general, and thofe brave men that attended him, that they might be enabled to depart fpeedily to their own country, with that opinion of their brethren the Mexicans, which their affecti- on to them and their obedience to their common mafter, d(^ferved.
At firft a dead filence fucceeded this ha- rangue J the whole affembly were confounded ' and ftruck dumb with grief, indignation and furprize. Then followed a mi'ied cry, as each perfon was affeded by fome particular part
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82 Ajt Account of the European of the general calamity. The luftre of their empire was tarnilhed, their religion to be pro- faned, their freedom furrendered, their empe- ror degraded; wDat was worfe, degraded by himfelf; could they believe their ears? Was it Montezuma who had fpoken in fach a manner?
The defign of Montezuma was until this moment a fecret to Cortes; he was furprifcd, and fomething chagrined at an artifice, the invention of which he now penetrated very clearly. But his furprife did not confound or
I)erplex him in the part he faw it was proper or him to ad. Without any ^mbarrafs- ment, he feconded the harangue pf Monte- zuma by a fpeecb, which was well inter- preted, wherein he ftrongly urged the propri- ety, and infinuated the neceffity of an entire obedience to their prince, and an imitation, of his condudl. Diford^red as the aiiembly was, yet ftill held by a facred reverence to their emperor^ influenced by the hope of the fudden departure of the Spaniards, and roferving themfelves for a better occalion, they followed Montezuma's example, and paid homage to Cortes, in that dumb and ftiHcii fubmifiion with which fierce fpirita yield to neceiiity. He received it, and thanked them, as a man thanks his debtor for a ready payment. . ,
Settlements /;/ America. .83
Cortes faw that this empty homage fecu- ted him nothing ; but he knew that *-he gold, which was to accompany it, would be of real fervice in cancelling the ill imprefli- ons made by his difobedience, in Spain. In Mexico he might look upon himfelf as feeurcj he had the perfon of the emperor in his hands 5 he had his forces in the capi- tal; he had lately ftruck a terror into all, by feizlng the general, who had committed hoflilities againd the Spaniards. He got the emperor to difavow his condud, and condemn him as a traitor. By their joint authority, this unhappy man, guilty of nothing, but obe- dience to his lawful mafter, and zeal for his country, was burned alive in the public fquare of Mexico. But neither this horrid example, nor the imprifonment of their em- peror, nor the late acl^nowledgment of the emperor Charles, was fufRcient to make the Mexicans infenfible to the difgrace they fuf- fered, nor of the danger which hung over them. They began to confult how they might deliver thcrhfelvcs. Some propofed to cut off the communication with the con- tinent, and hold the Spaniards befieged in their quarters ; for the city of Mexico is an ifland in a great lake, and communicates with the continent by four great caufeways, ex- tremely curious for contrivance and folidity. Whilil they were ripening their fchemes, a
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84 -4// Account of the European report came to Cortes, that fome words had dropt from a Mexican concerning the pradli- cability of deftroying one of thefe caufeways. From this word, (for he heard no more) this watchful and fagacious commander judged of the whole contrivance. Without however taking notice of it publicly, he im- mediately orders two brigantines to be built to fecure his retreat, if a retreat (hould prove the wifefl meafure. In the mean time he kept a ftridt difcipline in his army; and to preferve reverence from the Indians, he pro- hibited their approaching his quarters when his men were afleep, and fever ely punifhed thofe of his foldiers who flept out of the times and places appointed for that purpofcc All this while no preparations for his departure.
CHAP. XI.
ne attempts of Montezuma to make the Spani" ards leave Mexico, The arrival of Narvaez to take the command from Cortes, Cortes leaves Mexico . Defeates and takes Narvaez prifonen The Spaniards in Mexico bejieged, Cortes raifes thefege. Montezuma is killed,
MONTEZUMA, fick with impatience of his confinement, and feeing that he daily loft his authority amongft the people by the pufillanimous appearance of his
condudt,
Settlements in Ambrica.' 85
condud, as foon as he perceived that any fpirited adlion on his fide would be feconded with equal fpirit by his fubje6ts, he roufed his dormant magnanimity, and in fpite of the condition he was in, he fent for Cortes, and addreffed him in this manner: " Cortes, the defires of my fubjefts, my own dignity, and the commands of my gods, require that you fhould depart my empire. You are fen- fible how much I valued your friend fhip, and how etTedtually I have (hewn that I valued it. But after fo many profeffions of good-will upon your fide, and fo many proofs of it upon mine, after every pretence of bu- finefs is over, wherefore do you delay your return? I have yielded homage to your mafter, I am ready to obey him; I have fent him prefents, (or fliall I call it a tribute) worthy of myfelf and of him: your whole army is loaded, even to an inconvenience, with their darling gold. Would they have more? they fhall have more. But then, when they fhall have fpoken their largeft wifhes, and fatisfied their moft eager defires, I infift upon it that they depart immediately; or thty may find, in fpite of the condition I am in, of which condition, for your fake, and for my own, I fhall fptak but little, that Montezuma has yet courage enough to vindicate his honour, and friends in Mexi- co who will not fail to revenge the wrongs he (hall fufFer."
G 3 Cortes
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S6 Jjn Account of the European
Cortes perceived fomething of tin un» ufual refolution and fternnefs in the emperor's countenance whilft he fpoke. He therefore fcnt orders, before the iriterpreter began tQ explain his fpeech, that the Spaniards ihould ftand to their arms, and w^it his commands. His anfwer was refolute, bat not fuch as tq drive the emperor to defpair. He lamented the jealqiify which their common enemies had occafionedj that for his part he was fecured from ail fear by his own courage, and the bravery of his own troops ; bu| fince he w^s fo unfortunate as to find he could not longer enjoy the honour of a con- verfation he had fuch reafon to efteem, eon- fiftently with the emperor*s repofe, he would depart as foon as {hips could be built, for on landing he had been obliged to burn hi^ own. This anfwer footbed Mop,tezum^i he refumed his good humour, he prornifed to load his army with gold at his departure, and gave immediate orders that every thing Ihould be prepared for fitting out the ihips in the fpeediefl: and ampleft manner, But Cor- tes gave orders, which were full as well pbey* ©d, to the perfon he appointed for the equip- pient, to delay it upon every poflible pretence. Jie expe«5ted daily the return of the mefr fengers he had fent into Spain, to follicit his pardon and fuccours, with the continuance pf fae popmand. ■...-..
Wl>ilft
SlTTLEMENTs in AMERICA* 87
Whilft he was isrttertained with thefe ex- pciftations, and With finding out j.'*etences to defer his departure, an exprefs arrived from Sandoval, his governor at La Vera Cruz, in- forming him of the arrival of eighteen (liips, in which was an army oi eight hundred foot, and two hundred horfe, under the command of one Narvaez, who was fent by his old enemy Velafquez, the governor of Cuba, to fuperfede him in the command, to treat him as a rebel, and fend him in chains to Cuba. The governor feized the meflcngers, who were fent by Narvaez, to require him to furrcnder, and fent them prifoners with this account to Cartes. There never was a time wherein the firmnefs and capacitv of this commander in chief were put fo ftrongly to the proof. On oneJ hand, here was an army in weapons and couriage equal to his own, in numbers vaftly fuperior, and above all, ftrengthened with the name of royal authori- ty. The Mexicans, ill-afFedled before, would rejoice in this opportunity to fall upon him. On the other hand, muft he refign the conquefts he had made with fuch infinite toils and hazards, into the hands of his mortal enemy, and in return to bear thd name, and receive the puniQiment of a traitor? There was little room to hope for an accommodation. The thoughts of a fur- render were intolerable. One way only re- mained, to conquer Narvaez. His own'cou-
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88 ^jin Account (f the European rage and condudl; his foldiers, habituated to victory, and endeared to him by comniiti dangers and triumphs; his reputation, and the iignal providence which always attended him, would combat upon his fide. Above all, no time was to be loft in fruitlefs counfels.. He fent an exprefs to Sandoval, his governor in La Vera Cruz, to evacuate that place, and join him in his route with what men he had. He aflembled his forces, and found them to a man attached to his interefts, and ready to hazard every thing in fupport of them, He left eighty men in Mexico, picked from hi§ troops, recommending them to Montezuma, and him to them. With this fmall garrifon he dared to entruft Mexico and all his vaft hopes there ; but the imprifoned emperor was himfelf a garrifon, from the reverence his fubjedls bore him. Before he fct out, he releafed the prifoners which Sandoval had fent him, ufing the feverity of his officer to dif- play bis own clemency. He careffed them extremely, loaded them with prcfents for themfelves, and the principal officers of Nar- vaez's army, and did every thing to create himfelf a party there by his generoftty. He fent at the fame time very advantageous terms of accommodation to the general himfelf, but took care to follow and fecond his ambaf- fadors with all the power he could raife. yjjis, with Sandoval's reinforcement, did not
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Settlements /« America^ 89 amount to three hundred men 5 but with thefe, and for.e confederate Indians, he march- ed with all imaginable diligence to Narvaez's quarters.
Narvaez, elated with the fuperiority of his army, would hearken to no terms, though he was much preffed to it by his principal officers, who difcovered plainly that this quarrel could on^y end in the ruin of their party, or that of the Spanifti intereft in Mexico. Mean time Cortes, little incumbered with baggage, and lefs with a dilatory genius, advanced by forced marches. He was but a fmall diftance from the enemy's quarters, when the rains came on, and as ufual in that country, fell very heavily. Cortes knowing that the ill difpofitions of the {ky were circumftances favourable to a fur- prize, inviting to defperate enterprizes, and fhat they are always leaft prejudicial to thofe in motion, huving perfedl intelligence of the difpofition of Narvacz's army, and having dif- pofed his troops in fuch a manner as not to fall upon one another, and to adl in concert, Jie ordered them, when they (hould enter the town, where the enemy was ported, to keep in clofe to the houfes, that they might not fuf- fer by the artillery, which was fo placed as to play upon the middle of the ftreet. Having^ made this difpofition, he marched to attack ^he camp, on one of thofe gloomy and tem- pcftuous nights. Though he diredled every
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thing with the utmoft fecrecy, Narvaez had intelligence of his approach, but he laughed at it ; and not underAanding the nature of a prudent rafhnefs, could not believe that Cortes would make fuch an attempt in fuch a feafon, but went to fleep, without taking fufficient care that it fhould not be difturbed. Security in the general is eafily followed by that of every one elfe. Cortes alTaulted the town in three bodies, and whilft every one in the adverfe party ran in confufion to his arms, and op- pofed without com^nand or uniformity, aS each man was attacked, the whole army was routed. The quarters of Narvaez were at- tacked by Cortes's divifion, and the men routed there as elfe where. Narvaez himfelf, fhame-^ fully taken in bed, fell into his hands. " Value yourfelf, faid he, my lord Cortes, on your for- tune in making me your prifoner !" But Cortes, with a fmile of indignation, anfwered, " That he thought this by far the leaft adion he had performed, fince he came into the new world." When the morning came on, the difperfed army of Narvaez began to form into bodies, and to difcover the inconfiderable for.'^e which the night before had defeated them. Their firft motion, diftraded with fhame and an- ger, was to fall upon the conquerors, and re* cover the honour thev had loft. But when they found that their general was a prifoner, their artillery feized, and the advantageous -'■■i poft
Settlements in America.
poft they had occupied in the enemy's poflef- iion, and numbers amongft themfelves well- afFeded to Cortes, they liftened at laft to his propofals, recommended as they were by the polite and infinuating behaviour of which he was mafter, and that open and' unbounded ge- nerofity he fhewed to every one. They all eniifted under his b^. -er, and agreed to fhare his fortune. Thus did this accident, which feemed to threaten inevitable deftrudlion to the affairs of Cortes, prove the mofl effectual method of reftoring them to an excellent con- dition, wholly by means of the wifdom of his meafures, and of that vigour and a(5livity with which he purfued them. His army now con- fided of above a thoufand men after replacing his garrifon at La Vera Cruz, in which fortrefs he left Narvaez a prifoner.
Thisvidtory, and the reinforcement it pro- cured, came at a moft critical time 5 for hardly had he begun to adjuft matters for his return to Mexico, when an exprefs arrived that his affairs there were in a moft dangerous condi- tion, Alvarado, whom he had left to com- mand at his departure, though a brave and able man, had too great a contempt for the Indians, and too little a difcernment for the nice circumftances he was in, to manage with that juft mixture of firmnefs and yielding, by which Cortes had hitherto fo ballanced the hopes and fears of the Mexicans, that he ne- ver
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I; ■■■■ V.",Ul^P
92 An Account of the European
vcr gave them an entire opportunity of know- ing their own ftrength. This man, either discovering, or pretending at leaft to difcover, that feme of the chief men in the city, who were met in the great temple, were affembled to confult how to expel the Spaniards, fud- denly furrounded the place, and murdered all the perfons of rank who compofed the affembly.
This cruel and precipitate action fired the whole people. Enraged at what they had al- ready fufFered, and what they faw plainly they were yet to exped, their late ignominious patience, the fear of the Spanifli arms, their inbred refpedt for Montezuma, were all loft in their fury. Should they ftay, until on va- rious pretences thf.y were all butchered ? Montezuma, either forgetful of his office and dignity, or unable to exert it, could protedt them no longer. Gods and men allowed them to defend themfelves, and arms were in their hands. The flame, fo furious in the capital, fpread itfelf with equal fwiftnefs and rage over all the country, and all were vowed and hearty for the deftrudion of the Spa- niards. In this extremity Alvarado (hewed as much bravery as he had done imprudence in bringing it on. He redoubled his watch on the emperor j he obliged him to exert the remains of his authority in his favour, and fortifying his quarters in the beft manner the
tim«
Settlements in America.' 93
time would admit, he flood out the ftorm, and repulfed the Mexicans in feveral attacks. But their fury, far from relenting at the fre- quent and bloody repulfes they met, redoub- led by their loffes. They exercifed the be- iieged day and night, with the moft vigorous affaults 5 and to cut off their retreat, found means ^to burn the brigantines which Cortes had built.
Cortes, who was obliged to make fo rapid a march from Mexico, to defend himfelf a- gainft Narvaez, was compelled by an equal neceffity to march from Zempoalla to Mexico, to relieve his forces, and preferve his moft ^f- fential interefts there. The Mexicans, like all oeople who have not reduced the art of war 10 fome rule, fuffered their eagernefs in purfuing one advantage, to let other material ones lie negledled. For whilft they pufhed on the fiege of the Spanifli quarters with great vigour and diligence, they took no efFedtual care of the avenues to the city, or to cut off all fuccours from the befieged. Cortes en- tered the city without refiftance. He foon routed thofe who inverted the poft of the Spa- niards, and brought them a relief of which they ftood in the greateft need.
The arrival of fo formidable a body of troops, held the Mexicans fome time in fuf- pence ; but in fpite of the fatal error of ad- mitting them into their city, which had now
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grief;
Settlements in America. 95
grief; and in a few days died, lefs of his wound, which was but inconfiderable, than of forrow and indigoatipn, on feeling that he had fo far loft the efteem and love of his fub- jefts. There are other accounts of the death pf Montezuma, but this appears the mod probable. ,
Thus died this great prince, more remark- able for the great virtues by which he afcend- ed the thrpne, and thofe qualities by v/hich he held it in fo much luftre for many years, than for his fteadinefs and wifdom in defending it when attacked by a formidable enemy. It has happened thus to many great men. When Lurnllus and Pompey attacked Tigranes, king of Armenia, we do not fee any thing in him of the conqueror of fo many kings. Even his conqueror Pompey was not himfelf, after having enjoyed in glory for a long time a power acquired by the greateft exploits. Se ejfe magnum oblitus eft. It is natural, whilft we are raifing ourfelves, and contending a- gainft (Jifficulties, to have our minds, as it were, ftrung, ^nd our faculties intent and qonftantly awake. The neceffity of our af- fairs obliges us to a continual exercife of what- ever talents we poffefs ; and we have hope to animate and urge us onward. But when we are come to the fumm^it of our defires, the mind fufFers ilfelf to relax. It is grievous to contend a»new fqr things, of which we have
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CHAR XII.
Guatimozin chofen emperor by the Mexicansi He befieges the Spaniards in their quartersi Obliges Cortes to retire out of the cityi Dif trejfes him in his retreat* The battle of
; Qtumba. Cortes^ retreats to Tlififcalai, - ^
S foon as the Mexicans were apprized of the death of their emperor, they fet about the clecflion of a fucceffor. They im- mediately caft their eyes upon Guatimozin, J'% r^.' nephew
Settlements in America* 97
nephew and fon-in-law of Montezuma, a man fit to command at fuch a time ; of a per- fon graceful, a body ftrong and robuft, and of a foul full of the moft undaunted courage. Though no more than twenty-four years old, the reputation of his early expioits procured him the authority of age, and a penetf^ating genius ferved him for experience. He was no fooner called to this unfteady throne, than he took meafures to prevent the Mexicans from their diforderly and cafual attacks, and to make them aft with defign and uniformity. He examined thoroughly into the caufe of their former mifcarriages ; and confidering every thing, he found that the Indians in their pre- fent condition, could never hope for any fuc- cefs in open adion ; he refolved therefore to fpare his men as much as pofiible, until his own invention and time might teach them better methods of fighting. On thefe ideas he caufed all aflaults to ceafe 5 then he cut off the caufewavs which joined the city to the continent, and at the fame time ftrongly bar- ricaded the ftreets, refolving to ftarve an ene- my which feemed unconquerable by any other means ; a meafure, which. though it has with us no extraordinary appearance, fhewed no fmall fagacity in Guatimozin, becaufe it was what had never been before praftifed amongft the military ftratagems of this people, and in- vention is the charaderiflic of genius.
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From henceforward the whole method of the war was changed, the Spaniards grew every day more and more ftreightened for pro- vifions, and whenever they fallied out, though they flew great numbers of their opponents, the many canals of the city, and barricado be- hind barricade, after fome fuccefsful progrefs, obliged them, vanquiftied by mere wearinefs, to return without effedt to their quarters. The Spaniards, invincible by the Indian arms, were not proof againft famine. Cortes faw that no^ thing was left for his fecurity, but as fpeedy a retreat as poffiblej and though this muft neceflarily lofe them the moft confiderable part of the treafure they had amaffed, it was what leaft piflidled him. He encouraged his troops, by chearfully relinquifliing his own part, not to attempt burthening themfelves with a treafure which they might confider as lying at an advantageous intereft, until they ihould, as they certainly would, be enabled to return with a fufScient force to reclaim it.
The refolution of retreating being now taken, and all things difpofed for it, a queftion arofe, whether it were better made by day or in the night. On this the council of war was divided j and their reafons feeming pretty equal, a pcrfon amongft them, a fort of aftro- loger, who pafTed for a prophet, and as fuch was much refpeded by the greater part of the army, promifed them certain fu^cefs if they
. retreated
Settlements in America. 99
retreated by night. Certain it is, that when meafures are dubious, fuperftitious determi- iiations have great ufe ; for as reafon cannot eafily determine the right way, that method which fuperflition fixes upon, is by the weight it has from thence, purfued with the greater chearfulnefs and effect.
The general was guided by the prophet, and he difpofed every thing for his retreat with great judgment. He caufed the ufual fires to be lighted in every part of his quar- ters. Some of his boldeft and rhoft ad.ive men led the van. The prifoners, artillery, and heavy bagpage Were in the center. He himfelf, with oiie hundred of his choiceft troops, formed the rear. With wonderful order and filence, and without any interrup- tion, did the Spaniards march until they came to the firft breach in the caufeway. Here a portable wooden bridge which Cortes had prepared, was laid over; but when the artil- lery and horfcs had paffed, it was wedged fo clofely into the ftones that bordered the caufe- way, that it could not be removed, and there was yet another breach. But they were foon called from attending to this by a more pref- fing danger ; for as nothing could elude the vigilance of the new emperor, he found out their intention of retreating, and difpofed all along the fides of the caufeway an infinite multitude of canoes, with orders to preferve
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100 An Account of the European the grcateft lilence, and not to attempt any thing until a iignal was given. The darknefs of the night favoured the fcheme. And now perceiving; that the Spaniards were under fome embarrafiment, the Mexicans took this advan- tage, and all at once, with great order, pour- ed in their arrows ; raifing at the fame time a moft tremendous jfhout, fwellcd with the barbarous found of all their martial inftru- ments of mufic. The Spaniards were not wanting to themfelves, but behaved with fig- nal bravery. It were needlefs, and almoft im- poflible to relate all the deftrudion of that horrid night. The Indians at firfl attacked in good order, but the firfl ranks being rc- pulfed, and the diftant canoes preffing on to aftion, the whole attack was thrown into confufion. The Indians drowned or flaugh- tered one another : however, they ftill preffed on with untameable fury. Thoufands, im- patient of the delay their remote fituatiofi caufed them, leapt from their canoes, and climbing up the caufeway in the front where it was interrupted, broke in upon the Spa- niards, with a torrent hardly refiftible. In vain this naked multitude was hacked to pieces by the Spani(h fwords, in vain were they tumbled upon one another by hundreds into the lake ; new warriors fucceeded thofe that were killed, and the Spaniards, adually wearied out, were in danger of being wholly
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Settlements in America. ioi cut off; when making one vigorous effort in the front, they happily cleared that poft, and by a beam which they cafually met, they paifed over one by one j or, as fome fay, filling the intervals with the dead bodies of their enemies, they gained the main land. Cortes came over with the firft, for in the confufion of the night, their former order was in a good mcafure loft, and took care as faft as his men got over to form them, in order to fecure the paffag ^ for the reft. Then return- ing to thofe who were behind, by his prefence and example, he animated them to renew the fight, and drawing up a part of his men on both fides of the caufeway, he ordered the reft to file off from the center. In this man- ner the firft light faw the Spaniards clear out of the city. Cortes halted at a fmall diftance, that thofe whom the confufion and the night had difperfed, might have an opportunity of rejoining the reft of the army.
Happily they were not purfued, for as foon as the dawning light unveiled the field of battle to the Mexicans, the polTefTion of which they bought by fuch a profufion of their own blood, they perceived among the flain two fons of Montezuma. Thefe were a- mongft the prifoners, and were pierced by the arrows of the Mexicans in the promifcu- ous and undiftinguifhed carnage of the pre- ceding night. For fome time they were con-
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The principal army of the Mexicans, whilfl: he contended with fuch difiiculties from the flying parties, took anotl er route, and pouring in three columns into a plain, where their number might be of mod avail, they covered the whole of an extended valley, which lay dircd;ly in his road to Tlafcala : this was call- ed
Settlements in America. 103
cd the valley of Otumba. They concealed their purpofes with all imaginable care. To blind the Spaniards, they ordered feveral vil- lages to give them a friendly reception. But Cortes did not fufFer this to relax bis vigilance, not allowing himfelf to be deceived by any appearances of friendship fhewn by men, whofe intercft it was not to be his friends ; convinced as he was, that a furprize of all things was indeed very prejudicial to the af- fairs of a general, but that it was mortal to his reputation. He drew indications of their fcntiments towards him, from the manners, the gedures, and the countenances of thofe he treated with in his march ; and perceiving that many (hewed unufual figns of content and exultation, he judged not without reafon that it could not be favourable to him. He therefore difpofed every thing in fuch a man- ner as that his troops were neither difordered, nor his courage abated, when from an emi- nence they difcovered the extended plains of Otumba darkened as far as the eye could reach with the myriads of their enemies. The Spaniards, animated by their fuperiority in arms, and their former vid:ories, and the Tlafcalans, by the prefence of fuch allies, and their hatred of the Mexican name, be- haved with great bravery and fuccefsj nei- ther were the Mexicans inferior in animoiity and courage. Eut it was Cortes himfelf who
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determined the fortune of the day. Nothing he ever heard was either forgot, or fuffcred to be an ufelefs burthen upon his memory. He remembered to have heard from the Mexicans, that the fortune of the field with them ever followed that of the royal ftan- dard. This was a net of gold, elevated on a gilded flaff, and Ipiendid with plumes of a thoufand colours. Great exigencies alone brought it into the field, and it was entrufted to none but the care of the general, who fat on a chair fumptuoufly adorned, and fup-. ported on men's fhoulders in the center of the armies to view the whole battle, to be a witnefs of the behaviour of all his troops, and to give orders as the occafion required. Cortes pretending to make his principal effort in a quarter remote from the ftandard, em- ployed all his foot in that fervice ; but head- ing the horfe himfelf, with feme of his bra- ved officers, informing them of his defign, and animating them with the hopes of a fpeedy decifion, he flung himfelf with fury againft the part that feemed leafl diftant from the center. After difperfing and overturning whole battalions, they penetrated to the cho- fen body of nobles, who guarded the general and ftandard. Here the refiftance was greater, but it was foon overcome, and Cortes's own lance met the general, who was overthrown, and the flandard taken. All the other ftan-
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dards were ftruck diredWy, and the Mexicans fled every way which their fear and confufioa hurried them. They loft twenty thoufand men in this battle, and a fpoil infinite. This vidlory gave Cortes an undifturbcd paflage to Tlafcala, and a welcome reception amongft his allies there.
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Spaniards fent againji Cortes join him. He marches again to Mexico. A confpiracy a^ gainji his life baffled.
LE T us now turn our eyes to Mexico. No fooner were the Spaniards departed, than Guatimozin ordered the city to be forti- fied in fuch a manner as to fecure himfelf againft their entrance a third time. He found that a thoufand Tlafcalans were killed in this retreat, upwards of two hundred Spaniards, (the greateft lofs they had yet in America,) and a great number of horfes. He cut off the heads of the Spaniards, and of their horfes, no lefs dreaded, and fent them to all the neigh- bouring nations, as an infallible token of his vidory ; as a fure proof that he was refolved to keep no meafures with the enemy, and to ftir them up to their utter deftrudlion. He fucceeded fo well, that numberlefs petty na- tions, well inclined to the Spaniards, fell off,
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and many that were wavering were confirmed in the Mexican intereft. By this means feve- ral adventurers, that from the fame of Cortes had landed to join him, were cut to pieces be- fore they gained his army. But the negotia- tion to which Guatimozin bent all his force, was that with Tlafcala, becaufe this was Cor- tes's chief ftrength. He fent large prefents, and ambafladors of ability, with excellent in- ftrudtions, to detach them from the Spanifh intereft ; who executed their commiffion fo well, that they caufed a great divilion in their favour in the councils of that republic. But Cortes making his military exploits fubfervi- ent to his negotiations, and his fkill in nego- tiation afliftant to his exploits, baffled them at length with great addrefs, but not without great difficulty ; and the Tlafcalans were con- firmed in his friendfhip.
Whilft a general has an obedient and well united army, he has an engine in proper or- der to work in his defigns, and he can then execute them with eafe ; but the greateft trial of his capacity is to defend himfelf againft a foreign enemy, and wreftle with a domeftic fedition at the fame time. The foldiers of Narvaez, fince Cortes's return from Mexico, where they were obliged to leave fo confider- able a part of tneir booty, now hopelefs of the expedition, began to mutiny, and de- manded to be lent home dircdly to Cuba ;
nor
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nor were his other troops free from feme part of the inf?dlion. Whatever could be done by preferving ihem in adlion, without too great a fatigue j whatever a feafonable yield- ing, without forfeiting authority ; in (hort, whatever an able commander could do in fuch circumftances, was done by Cortes, without ^ny other efFed: than that of palliating the difeafe ; the indifpofition ftill continued.
Whilft he ftruggled with thefe difficulties, which nearly overpowered him, his old ene- my, James Velafquez, looking on the fuccefs of Narvacz*s expedition as a thing certain, fent a (hip to get intelligence of his proceed- ings, and about thirty men to reinforce him. The perfon who commanded at the port for Cortes, no fooner faw the (hip in the offing, than he went on board her, and upon the captain's enquiry after Narvaez, he aflured him he was well, and as fuccefsful as he coqld wiffi. Not doubting this, the captain and his men landed, and were immediately made prifoners. Finding how affairs were really circumftanced, they admired the con- queror, commended the ftratagem, and chear- fully joined the army.
Much about the fame time the governor of Jamaica, and he too a determined enemy of Cortes, fent three (hips with a fmall body of troops, in hopes of tearing from him fome part of his conquefts. Thefe fhips were dif-
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perfed in a ftorm, and were involved in many difficulties ; but what is lingular, they all, though feparatcd, came to one and the fame refolution, which was to revolt from the com- mander, and join Cortes the moment they came on fhore : fo that the enemies of Cortes now no lefs than three times relieved him, by the very methods which they took to diftrefs his affairs. Thefe advantages, though im- proved to the utmoft by Cortes, were certainly not at ail the refult of his contrivance. There is a fpecies of a fplendid good fortune neceffary to form an hero, to give a luflre to his wif- dom and courage, and to create that confi- dence and fuperiority in him that nothing elfe can give, but which always makes a principal part of an heroic charader. Without this, it is impoffible for any man, however qualified, to emerge. Cortes was not only fortunate, by being freed from the moft terrible em- barrafTment by the arrival of thefe fuccours, which were never intended as fuch ; but much about the fame time fhips arrived from Spain, bringing, on the account of fome pri- vate perfons, a reinforcement of men and mi- litary flores ; and from the court an authen- tic approbation of his crndudl, and a confir- mation of his command. i Fortified with thefe, he yielded to the mu- tinous importunities of fuch of his foldiers as were earncf^ to depart ; and though he dimi-
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nifhed his numbers confiderably by this ftep, he judged it better to have a well-difciplined army than a great one, and knew that little could be expected from men who were dragg- ed unwillingly to adion ; at the fame time that their cowardice or fedition would infc<fl the reft. After the departure of the mutineers, he found he had ftill above nine hundred Spani(h foot, eighty-fix horfe, and eighteen pieces of cannon. With thefe, and with the alliftance of a vaft body of Tlafcalans, and allies of various nations, whom admiration and fear of Cortes, or hatred to the Mexicans, had brought under his banner, he once more pre- pared to attack Mexico, which was the grand obje(ft of his undertakings. The city was fb advantageoufly fituated, and he knew at this time fo well fortified, that nothing could be done without a force on the lake. To cut off their fupplies, he ordered the materials of twelve brigantines to be got ready, in fuch a manner as only to need being put together when they (hould arrive at Mexico. Thefe were carried upon the fhoulders of his Indian allies. His route to Mexico cannot be fo much confidered in the light of a march, as a con- tinued train of ambufcades and battles, fome of which were fought with the moft nume- rous armies, and with circumftances not fuit- ed to the brevity of my purpofe to relate. In all thefe he was fuccefsful, though his ene- '-^i; mies
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mies may be faid, with little exaggeration, to have difputed with him every foot of ground between Tlafcala and Mexico.
At laft that city {hewed itfelf, rifing from the midfl of a noble lake, furroundcd with a number of moft populous cities, as her at- tendants upon every fide, and all fubjed: to her power. The Spaniards looking on this as their goal, revived their courage, and for* got the difficulties of their march j and the Tlafcalans, in a perfeftfury of military delight, wanted the fteady hand of Cortes to reftrain a courage, which he commended and kept alive by his example and words, whilft he modera- ted its ardor. Before he began the attack of Mexico, !ie fpent fome time in reducing all the neighbouring cities from which it might derive any fuccour. He cut off the aquedudls which fupplied Mexico with water, that of the lake being brackish, and he got ready his brigantines with all imaginable diligence to cut off all relief from that quarter. : /Whilft his attention was wholly employed in the profecution of the war, an old Spaniard, who had long ferved, difcovered to him a confpiracy of the moft dangerous nature. An- tonio de Vilefana, a private foldier, but a man bold and defperate in any bad purpofe, and fubtlc in contriving it, had formed a confpi- racy with fcveral others to kill Cortes, and the principal perfons upon whom he relied, and
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then to return to Vera Cruz, from whence they might cafily pafs to Cuba, and fecurc their pardon by the merit they (hould make of this adlion with James Velafquez. They were urged to this refolution by the fatigue of thofe innumerable dangers and difficulties they had pafled, and by the defpair of overcoming thofe which yet lay before them ; without confidering that by this wicked adion, they muft rather produce new difficulties than overcome the old. Others of more confe- quence were drawn in, and the confpiracy had been fo far formed, that the time and manner of killing the general was fettled, and the perfon fixed, upon whom they intended to devolve the command.
When Cortes was apprifcd of this confpi*- racy, without any hurry which might give notice that he had difcovered it, yet, with- out lofing a moment to take advantage of the difcovery, with four or five of his principal captains, he went diredlly to the quarters of Vilefana, who, aftonifhed at feeing him, made half his confeffion by the fear he difcovered. Cortes had him thrown immediately into irons, and then ordering every body to retire, he examined himfelf into all the particulars of the affair, and the names of the perfons concerned. Vilefana made a full confeffion, and ended it by producing a paper in vindi- cation of their proceeding, which had been
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figned with the names of all the confpirators. Cortes was not a little furprifed to fee amongft them, the names of perfons upon whom he had great reliance. However, he diflembled his concern, and ordered Vilefana to be im- mediately executed. He was Hiewn to all the army hanging at his tent door. Cortes informed uone of the friends he moft trufted with the paper he had received ; but fum- moning the army, he gave them an account of the horrid confpiracy that had been formed againft his life j that he had punifhed the perfon principally concerned, but that it was with fatisfadtion he was left ignorant of his accomplices, by the care the criminal took in deftroying a paper, which he believed might have made great difcoveries. For his part, as he had punifhed, and was refolved Severely to punifh any flagitious attempt a- gainil his life or authority, fo he was deter- mined to order both in fuch a manner as to give juft caufe of complaint to no man \ and if by any accident he had done fo, he was ready to give him all reafonable fatisfadlion . Proceeding thus, Cortes had the advantage of knowing who they were that wifhed him ill} at the fame time that they remained unap* prifed of the difcovery he had made, and en- deavoured to prevent it by a more diligent performance of their duty : he now appointed a guard upon his perfon.
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SETtLEMEJ^TS tfi AMERICA.' II3
Hardly had Cortes fupprefled tMs confpi* racy, and made the proper ufe of a baffled attempt again ft his authority, which was to ftrengthen and increafe it, than a difficulty of fomething of a fimilar nature engaged him, and from which he extricated himfelf with the fame courage and prudence* The general of the Tlafcalans envying his glory, and per- haps fearful of the confequenc . of the entire deftrud:ion of the Mexicans^ though enemies to his own country, perfuaded a confiderable body of the people to quit the Spanifti camp, Cortes immediately ordered him to be purfued. This general had formerly been an enemy to Cortes, and oppofed him in the councils of his nation J but when he faw the general cur- rent in his favour, he made a timely change, and came entirely into his interefts. He had now relapfed, and was therefore not to be trufted any more. Cortes gave orders to thofe who purfued him to put him to death. The Tlafcalans who revolted were ealilv orevailed upon to return ; and fo dexteroufly did Cortes reprefent this affair, that neither the Tlafca- lans in his army, nor the republic, nor even the father himfelf of the general, condemned him for what he had done. r-v -c^i ?
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CHAP. XIV.
^he liege of Mexico. Terms of accommodation refined by the Mexicans. The Spaniards re» pulfed by aftratagem of Guatimozin. A nevo Jlratagem of Guatimozin, He is taken. The city furrmders, Guatimozin tortured. Cor* tes fuperjeded in his government. Reflexions on the Spanijh cruelties.
THESE internal dlforders being com- pofed, he turned his fortitude and wif- dom againft his open enemies. Three prin- cipal caufeways led to the city, which three towns or fuburbs defended upon the fide of the continent; Within were trenches and barricadoes one behind another the whole length of the way. Cortes ordered three attacks upon thefe towns, and the caufeways which they defended. The brigantines adted upon the water. Through the whole length of this iiege, the bravery of the Mexicans, in defence of every thing which was dear to them^ was not more remarkable than the in- genuity by which they baffled the attacks of the Spaniards, and attacked them in their turn. On land, on water, by open force, by flratagem, by every method, they plied each other inceflantly day and night. But the Spa- niards, invincible under the command of Cor-
' , tes.
Settlements in America.' 115
tcs, had the advantage fo far, that with infi- nite flaughter they gained thefe pofts which fecured the caufeways upon the fide of the country, at the fame time that they cleared the lake fo, that a canoe of the enemy did not dare to appear upon it.
Cortes gained thefe advantages, but he faw how dearly he had bought them ; he refledled how it would tarnifh his glory to deftroy io beautiful a city, and drench it in the blood of its unfortunate inhabitants j and confidering what fupernatural exertions of ftrength had been frequently fhewn by a defpairing people, in the laft convulfive ftruggle for their reli- gion, life, and property, he made ufe of the advantages he had gained to recommend the terms of accommodation, which he refolved to fend in to the befieged. He required no more than the acknowledgment of the em- peror of the Romans, and the confirmation of his right of fucceeding ceded to him by Mon- tezuma, and long acknowledged by the moft authentic prophecies of the nation, and fuch a fecurity as might fetrie the performance of this.
Guatimozin, who had done all that bravery and military fkill could perform to fave his country, finding the means moft fuited to his years and inclinations unfuccefsful, though full of that noble pride which becomes and fup- ports the royal charadler, was now as willing
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1 16 An Account of the European to fave it by the milder and furcr way of accommodation. But the priefts, who had much influence in the council, either fearful of lofing their power, or through an honeft, though blind zeal, denounced vengeance from their gods upon all who could think of fub- miflion, and promifed a certain fuccefs to thofe who ftood up in defence of their religion. They had great weight, and the whole coun- cil, contrary to the opinion of the emperor, became unanimous in refuling all terms. Gua- timozin, who yielded to the general fenti- ment with regret, and faw the unhappy con- fequence but too clearly, refolved to fall with the fame fpirit that he had lived. " Then, faid he, iincc you are determined to hazard every thing, prepare to adt in a manner wor- thy of that refolution. Me, you (hall never find wanting to you, or to myfelf. Thefe are the laft good terms you are to exped. Whatever henceforward you demand through neceflity, will be anfwered with pride and cruelty. Therefore, henceforward, let no man prefume to ipeak of peace, be our exigencies what they will ; the firft that dares to do it (hall certainly die ; even the priefts them- felves; they are moft concerned to fupport the oracles of their gods."
When he had faid this, with a ftern and determined countenance, he went out of the affcmbly, and ordered the whole city under
arms.
Settlements /// America. 117 arms. Cortes, on the other fide, as Toon as he found that his propolals were rejedted, laid afide all thoughts but thoie of violence, and commanded a general afTault to be made at the three caufeways all at once, and to carry fire and fword into the heart of the city. He commanded himfejf in the principal attack. The caufeway was broke down before him, and the breach formed a ditch of fixty feet wide. On the other fide appeared a fortifi- cation of earth and planks. He ordered the brigantines to the fide of the caufeway, to favour the attack, and directing his cannon againfl the fortification, made fo furious a fire that it was foon demolifhed ; and the defend- ers galled by the incefTant fhot, which made a mofl terrible havock, could maintain the pod no longer. Cortes, under the fire of his cannon, and with the help of his brigantines, pafTed over the ditch, and lofl no time to pof^ fefs himfelf of the other fide, leaving one of his captains with a detachment to fill it up,, and fecure a retreat, in cafe it fliould be fpi^nd necefTary. Then he advanced to attack the remaining barricadoes of the Mexicans, whg made a brave defence. The battle raged fu- rioufly, and as the Spaniards gained ground, their dangers and loiTes grew every mon^ei^t greater. They had noYf advanced amongd the buildings, frona whence they were opprefT- ed with a mixt florm of darts^ arro^Ys, ftones,
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and boiling water. Before them flood a chofen body of the Mexican foldiers, who made a refolute {land. During this conflifl, the cap- tain who had been pofted to fill up the ditch, thinking it an inglorious employment to be employed as a pioneer, whilfl his companions were in fuch hot adion, advanced with all his m.en, and deferted the ncceffary work he was employed in.
No fooner had Guatimozin, whofe eyes were every where, perceived this motion, than he took advantage of it. He ordered thofe who were in the front of the Spaniards to flacken their efforts 5 for as night came on faft, he thought it better to allow the enemy to gain fome ground, that he might fall on them with more advantage in their retreat. cJortes as quickly perceived this flacknefs, and the caufe which produced it. He found that the breach of the caufeway was abandoned, that night approached, and that there was little hope of a lodgment in the city at that time. He therefore began to retreat in the befl order he could, fetting fire to the houfes, that he might not be incommoded by them in his next attack. But fcarcely was the re- treat begun, when their ears were alarmed by the dreary found of the facred trumpet, fo called becaufe it was permitted to the priefls alone to found it ; and that only when they animated the people on the part of their gods.
The
Settlements in America. 119
The found was doleful, continued, and ftrong, inipiring a contempt of death, and a dark re- ligious fury. Immediately enfued a horrid ciyt which refounded from all parts ; and this was followed by an attack of more than common rage upon the rear of the Spaniards, which was broke entirely, after a gallant and bloody Aand. All order was now loft. The general's commands were drowned in the cry and tumult of the fight \ the Tlafcalans who were in the front threw themfelves precipi- taisly into the trench ; fome made a fruitlefs oppofition, others attempted to gain the bri- gantines, whilft the Mexicans on fhore, in ca- noes, wading, or fwimming, upon every fide, affaulted and flaughtered them with the moft horrid cries, and a rage almofl inconceiveable. With difficulty Cortes and fome of his troops efcaped on board the brigantines, wounded and defeated. A thoufand Tlafcalans lay dead upon the caufeway, many Spaniards, andfcarce any efcaped without a wound. What was the faddefl circumflance of all, forty were taken prifoners, of whofc deftiny there was no doubt. The other attacks had no better fuccefs, though in them the lofs was not fo confiderable. The officer, whofe imprudence had occafioned this misfortune, came to Cor- tes, with tears acknowledging his crime, and defiring to wafh it out with his blood j but Cortes, though rigid iji his difcipline, faw
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that this was no time to difpirit the arm/ with examples of feverity.
Night came on, but it brought no reft to the afflidled Spaniards, fince its darknefs Could not conceal from them the triumph of the Mexicans, and the fate of their friends. They faw the whole city (hining with lights, and heard it refounding with the diffonance of barbarous mulic, and all the marks of an hor- rid joy. So great were the fires and illumr- nations, that they could fee diftindly the men in motion, and all things preparing for the death of the prifoners, attended with the mor- tifying circumftance, that they were to be ia- crificed to their falfe gods. Cortes, in the midft of all thefe calamitous circumllances, w^hich lay heavy about his heart, affumed an air of tranquillity, endeavouring to comfort his foldiers with the hope of a timely revenge, and taking all necefiary care that they fhould net be attacked unawares. This care was neceflary ; for before morning appeared, the Mexicans, elated with their late vidory, and under the aufpices of thofe gods, whom they believed they had rendered propitious by the human blood which wafhed their altars, and animated by the found of the confecrated trumpet, fallied out to attack the Spaniards in their quarters. The attack was violent, but repelled at length with an incredible flaughter of the Mexicans.
■ Cuati-
Settlements in America. i2t
'■ Guatimozin was not didieartened. He pre- pared for new aflaults, and had his ruined works repaired to endure thofe affaults, which {hould be made againft himfelf. Not relying folely on force, he fpread a report amongft all the neighbouring nations that Cortes was killed ; to them he fent the heads of the Spa- niards who had been facrificed, informing them, that the god of war, appeafcd by a fa - crifice fo agreeable to him, had audibly de- clared in favour of the Mexicans, threatened vengeance on thofe who refifled them, and foretold that in eight days time the Spaniards (hould be all deftroyed. The credit of this oracle amongft all the Indians, and the deter- minate time afcertained for its completion, gave it the air of truth ; for falfehood delights in general terms and equivocations, whereas the precifc manner of fpeaking truth, is one of the marks by which we gueis at it. In fa(5t, this ftratagem had its effedt, many tribes of Indians, who were upon the point of joining Cortes, embraced the Mexican intcreft 5 the more prudent fufpended their refolution ; but Guatimozin did not want emiflkries even in the Spanifh camp, who terrified the Indian allies with this prophecy. Even the Tlafca- lans were upon the point of deferting him, when Cortes counteraded this llratagem in the wifcft manner polTible. He refolved to fufpcnd all manner of operations againft tho ..•::.•:/■ ciry
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122 An Account of the European
city for thefe eight days, to demonftrate the faliity of this oracle^ and to hinder it from being ever again ufed as an inflrument to work upon the credulity of his confederates. He prevailed upon the Tlafcalans to wait the de- termination. In the mean time he flrongly fortified,his camp.
Guatimozin was fenfible that the cfFedl of his policy muft be weakened every day, and with that idea employed every hour of the day or night to affault Cortes's camp, but al- ways with ill fuccefs. This great commander was always on his guard \ and his troops ad- vantageoufly pofted, bid defiance to every thing of an Indian attack. At lafl the eight days expired, and with them the terror of the confederate Indians. The ftratagem now operated as powerfully againft thofe who con- trived it, inlbmuch that all the neighbouring nations, before fufpended by the uncertain event of thefe mighty ftruggles, declared in favour of Cortes, who by this fortunate turn in a little time found himfelf at the head of two hundred thoufand men. This was the laft hope of the Mexicans. All that follow- ed was only the departing agony of that flate. The city was alTaulted with redoubled vigour, and now reduced by flaughters, fatigue and famine ; the Mexicans faw the fuperior flar of Cortes gain the afcendant. The town was penetrated upon all fides, yet the befieged de- fended
Settlements in America. 123
fended every ftreet j and their inceflant (how- ers of darts and ftones from the tops of the houfes. made the progrefs of the befiegers flow and bloody. In this extremity, Guati- mozin did every thing that could juftify the hopes of the Mexicans when they called him to the throne, every thing that was worthy of one refolved to die a king. But when he found tha; all hope of diilodging the enemy was utterly at an end, his troops half famish- ed, exhaufled in numbers and in ftrength, and no part tenable, he determined to leave the city to obtain the beft terms it could from the conquerors, and to feek himfelf a more profperous opportunity at a diftance. For this purpofc he renewed the treaty with the Spaniards, and took the opportunity of this ceffation of arms to put himfeif and his fa- mily, with fome of the braveft and moft faith- ful of his nobility, on board fome periaguas, attempting to efcape to the continent ; but Cortes apprehending this very thing, ftation- cd his fleet in fuch a manner, that he was intercepted, and foon out of a condition of making any defence. He went on board the Spanifli commander, with an air of dignity and compofure, betraying neither fear nor fur- prife, and defired no favour, but that the ho- nour of his wife and her attendants might be fpared. The Spani(h captain attended but little to him, endeavouring to prevent the
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124 -^'^ Account af the European efcape of th'3 nobility j but Gualimozin dc- lired him not to be anxious about them. " Not one of thefe men will fly, fays he, do not fear it, they are come to die at the feet of their fovereign." The captain, admiring the conftancy of the man, and the fidelity of his iubjedls, conduded him to Cortes. The ruins of the city of Mexico were now delivered up to the Spaniards. With it fell that empire, and the liberty of all the Indian nations, which filled that vaft country now called New Spain, who either flid gradually frqm alliance to fub- jeftion, or defending themfelves without fuc-r cefs, were made, and created as flaves.
The curiofitv of the reader will doubtlefs be interefted to know the fates of the captains of the conqnering and conquered parties in this war. For iome time the treatment of Guatin:iozin was (uch as fitted an unfortunate brave man, in the hands of thofe who could ertimate virtue by other ftandards than its for- tune ; and fuch was his treatment, whilft the authority of Cortes was fufficient to protect him. But the infernal avarice of his troops, which at once excited and difgraced their cou- rage, not fatisfied with the plunder of this opulent city, believed that there were fome latent treafures within the knowledge of the emperor, which far exceeded all the reft that they had yet poflelfed. TheyT)ften follicited the captive emperor wich promifes and threats
to
Settlements in America. 125
to make a difcovery, but to no purpoie j at laft a number of villains, Juan de Alderete at their head, a name defer ving to be remem- bered to its everlafting infamy, feized upon him, and proceeding to the moft abominable cruelty, laid him upon burning coals, to ex- tort a difcovery of his Wealth. But their v^rickednefs could neither extort a difcovery of his wealth, nor the fatisfadtion even of a de- claration that he had none to difcover. His countenance did not betray the leaft yielding or weaknefs under the torture ; fome of his principal counfellors fuffered along with him, and with equal conftancy. At laft, one of thofe unhappy men, overcome by the force of torments, almoft fuperior to human ftrength, turned his eyes, fainting with anguifli, upon his mafter, and uttered a doleful cry ; but Guatimczin anfwered him only by faying, " Do you think 1 lie upon rofes ?" The fuf- fcrer, ftruck dumb with thefe words, and ftifling every murmur that m? ^ht difliearten the others, or difturb Guatimozin, expired in an adt of obedience to his prince. This wick- ednefs was committed without the knowledge of Cortes. He was no fooner apprifed of what was doing, than he ruflied in upon the villains, and refcued their prey, mangled as it was, from their farther fury. However, this was but a (hort refpite. This prince, confcious of ^is own, dignity, and fenfible ojF
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126 An Account of the European
the bafe ufagc he received, either endeavoured to ftir up commotions, or was fufpedted of fuch a defign, and Cortes being obliged to fubmit the humanity of his nature to the cruel neceflity of politics, ordered him to bd executed.
As for Cortes himfelf, neither his great fuccefs, nor the vaft treafures which he fent into Spain, could fecure him from his ene- mies J by whofe unwearied zeal for his ruin, he faw himfelf fuperfeded in the government of a country, conquered by himfelf with fo much toil and danger, and which in any other hands had never been effedted. He died in Spain, having received a title and fome other f ewards from Charles the Vth, for whom he had acquired an empire ; but by his own de- fire he was carried to Mexico, and buried there. It was the policy of Spain at that time to give great encouragement, and extenfive grants, to all adventurers 5 but when any great difcovery was made, or conqueft atchieved, they always fent another to reap the benefit of the firft ad- venturer's labours. This was a policy un- doubtedly good with regard to one objcdt, the fccurity of the conquered country ; but like all unjufl policy, it had altogether as ill an eiTed another way ; the new governors, hun- gry and rapacious, and fcarce confidering the Indians as human creatures, murdered vaft numbers of them \ and cxhaufting them by
an
§Ex riEMENTs /« America. 127
an intolerable flavcry, in hopes of a fudden gain, they depopulated the country in fuch a manner, as to abate very much the advantages which Spain might have derived from fo ex- teniive a conqueft. Cortes himfelf was not free from the imputation of cruelty j the bi- fliop of Chiapa, a good man, who was fent purpofely to make an enquiry into complaints of this kind, gives a very unfavourable repre- fentation of his condudt. He accufes him of having deftroyed four millions of people in New Spain. It is certain, whether by his connivance or not, but partly by the ncceffity of war, and partly by the avarice and info- lence of the conquerors, vaft numbers of the Indians periftied ; but on the other hand, it appears that the bifhop of Chiapa was an ene- my to Cortes, which, though a good man otherwife, muft detrad from his credit not a little, efpecially as other hiftorians differ from him in this point. Beiides, I am well fatif- fied, that great allowance muft be made for exaggerations in the number of inhabitants thefe countries are faid to have contained. More populous, I believe, they were than the entirely uncivilized parts of North or South America ; but it can hardly be thought they were fo full of people as they are repre- fented to have been, if we can truft to any of the rules by which we ufually judge in this matter, nor confequently could they have fuf-
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fered fuch loflcs in fo fliort a time, without being utterly depopulated, which certainly they were not.
Since I am on the fubjedt of thefe cruel- ties, and fincc they are things fo frequently mentioned, I cannot help obferving, that the accounts are by no means founded upon any tolerable methods of calculation, but thrown down at random in a declamatory way, with a defign yet further to blacken the Spanifli adventurer j men certainly wicked enough, though reprefented without any heightening colours. The truth is, that great numbers, perhaps almoft as great as are charged, have really perifhed ; but then it was in a feries of years, by being reduced to flavery in the mines, and other laborious occupations, to which the Americans are of all people, by their conftitutions, the moil unequal, and by being difheartened by a ftate of unpolitical and defperate flavery, the greateft enemy in the world to increafc. ■.
There is a notion likewife pretty common, that thefe cruelties were committed partly, if not wholly, upon a religious account, and at the inftigation of the priefts j but in reality it was quite otherwife. This unfortunate peo- ple found their only refuge in the humanity which yet remained in the clergy, and the influence they had on the Spaniards, through the clergy, who went on thefe adventures,
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SETTLfiMtNts in America. i2q
tvcfc generally not the moft zealous for reli- gion, and were, as the Spanifh clergy com- monly are, ignorant enough, and fo little principled in the fpirit of the religion they profefied, or indeed in the nature of the hu- man mind, that they could boafl as a very glorious thingi that one of them had bap- tized feveral thoufands of Indians in one day, without the help of any miracle for their con- verfion, and with a degree of good life, which, to fay the beft, was nothing more than com- mon. But of any murders committed by them, or at their infligation, I find little or no proof at all.
* ■ ■ •
\ C H A h XV*
The fcbeme bf Pizarro and Almagro for the conqueji of Peru, Their chara&ers. The fate of the empire of Peru at thai time. The taking of the ynca Atabalipai
BESIDES Mexico, there was but one country in America which in any fort deierved the name of a civilized kingdom^ and that was Peru. During the latter part of the Mexican war, the Spaniards became ac- quainted with the fame and wealth of this country. After Pcdraria was appointed go- vernor over the conquefts of Balboa, his lieu- tenants reduced all that large trad which is Vol. I. K nov/
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An Account of the EtrRO!>EAN now called Terra-firma, committing barbari- ties worthy the man Under whofb authority they adted. Amongft all the adventurers who iafted under his commiffion, lioiife have made themfelves fo fartious as thofe of whom we are going to f^eak.
As if it SVere deftined that cv^fy thing in this new world fliould be carried on in a neW and extraordinary manner, three citizens of Panama, private men,^ and advanced in years, undertook the cohqucft of Peru, a coUntfy known to them only by report, but by the fame report faid to be rich, exteniive, pb- pulous, and powerful. The names of thefe adventurers were, Francis Pizarro, Almagro, and Ferdinand Lucques, a prieft, and a man of confiderable fortune. They entered into this engagement in the moft folemn manner. Lucques faid mafs, ah oath of frtutual fidelity %as plighted, the facrafhent v^as divided into three parts, Lucques took one, aild delivered the other two to his confederates. The firft 'expedition, in cdnfequenee of this c^rifede- tacy, wns made under extrabrdihafy difficul- ties, and with vei^y lijtk Aiccefs. -Pkzarro, Who comniandfed, (^nt t\vo y^ars in the jihort navigation bctv<^e^n Paniiiiia ^nd the 'Northern extremity of Perti, a Vdyage now ^^ade freiqirently in tVvb Weeks, -fince the winds and currents Mare known . ^He lan-d(?d, ^and found that the wealth of the 'cduntfy\v»as
* as
as 'grea^ as ^be .imagined ; and that the refill- -ance h^'Was Itke to meet in endeavouring to ♦poffefs 'himfelf of it, would be full as confi- derable. This he put to ^he proof very earr- ;ly, by taking the rafh fie p of attacking the •inhabitants at his firfl landing j and thus let- »ting thorn fee all at once the word of his in- tentions. The difficulties he met v/ith, and 'the refiiWIicehis ill condudl occafioned in the ,countFy, obliged him to return without effe(5l- ing any thing Goniiderable. But neither he, -nor his aflbciates, after fuch a length of time, or^fuch greatn^fs of ^xpence, were deterred ^from the profecution of their fcheme. It was agt«ed that Pizarro (hould go into Spain to obtain an exemption from the government of Pedraria, and to get for themfelves the grant of \y^batever they (hould conquer. Pizarro (\\«hoj • though not the monied man, was the (foul ,0f the enterprize) was to be chief go- vernor, with the property of two hundred leagues along the foa-coaft. Almagro they agreed fliould be adelantado, or king's lieu- tenant; and Lucqucs, who was a pried, was to be firfl bifhop and protestor of the In- dians. The other profits of the enterprize were to be equally divided. But as this was an enterprize of ambitious avarice, there was little faith obferved. Pizarro follicited only his own fuit in Spain, and obtained for him- felf alcme the -property of the land, the go- V •■•'• K 2 vernment,
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132 Jn Aqcovht 0/ the Evvir am vernment, the lieutenancy, every thing which he was capable as a layman of taking j Al- magro was forgot, and to Lucquez was left his eventual biftioprick.
On his return, this too early difcovcry of breach of faith was like to ruin all j but Pi- zarro, who knew how to retreat as well as to advance, yielded up to Almagro every thing he could reafonably defire, and nothing now obftruded the embarkation, which, after all, did not exceed one hundred and eighty men.
Before we proceed, it may not be unnecef- fary to fay fomething of the perfons who had the conduct of this great undertaking. Francis Pizarro was the baflard fon of a gentleman of good family. His education was as irre- gular as his birth, he could not even read ; but then he had a great deal of that capacity and iitnefs for the world, which is obtained by much ftruggling in it, and by being early made dependent on a man's own induflry. Hardened to life, dexterous in affairs, never fetting his heart upon a part of his deiigns whilft the total was at ftake, of a penetrating fagacity into the nature of man, artful, bold, diiTembling, and cruel. Almagro had like- wife enough of |hat defperate bravery and toughnefs of body and mind, fo neceifary in a defign of this fort. In their birth there was no confiderable difference. Pizarro was a baftard, Almagro a foundling. Pizarro owed
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Settlements /« America. 133 nothing to education 5 Almagro depended wholly upon his natural parts. But Almagro, bred from his infancy in the camp, had all the foldierly qualities, patient, laborious, and temperate; far from the craft and diflimu* lation of Pizarro, he was all opennefs and generofity, knew not what avarice was, and his cruelty, the common diftemper of all the adventurers in this part of the world, was much mitigated by the intercourfe he had with an Indian woman, who, by degrees, foftened the rigour of a veteran feafoned to blood, into fome compadion to her unhappy countrymen.
The empire of Peru was governed by a rac« of kingSa which they called yncas. The twelfth in fuccefiion was then upon the throne. The firft ot this race, named Mango Capac, was a prince of great genius, with that mix* ture of enthuliafm, which fits a man to make great changes, and to be the legiflator of a forming nation. He obferved that the peo- ple of Peru were naturally fuperftitious, and had principally a veneration for the fun. He therefore pretended that he was defcended from that luminary, whofe authority he \vas defigned to bear, and whofe worfhip he was by that authority to enforce, By this perfua- fion, eafily receii'ed by a credulou? people, he brought a large territory under hi§ jurif- fjiitipn f a larger was fubduQd by bis arms; ^niA :,; K 3 '•' but
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134 ^« Atcomr tf tie' EijlL6fTiM but he made u^e both of tht dcc6ii tfftd ih6 fdrce for the ttiofl laudable pui'pofc's. Bid united and civilised the difpetf(*d! 2iii(i bai'ba'^ rous people j he bent ihttti to faws ai^tl a-ii^*; he foftened tfiehfi by the Mffi?tutbn'S of d b6* nevoleiit religioh' -, in' fltoft, there Was no part of America: in which agfrctitture and lihe M'i^ were fo miich aiid fo' Well tiThJva!fdd!, nor where the pe6pld were of a milder Mturfe, and more ingfchuotis tfiahnets. Tbd J/rtcagf defcended,^ as thtf ifriagined, from fti faffed an original. Were thefnfelveS rcfpcdkd irs di- vinities. In ndnd, et^en af the Afidtic coun- tries, was there fo entire an obedience to the royal authority. But htit it W^sf tathcf filial thafi flavidi. As to the charaftef of the Pe- i-uvians themfekes, they feem to haVfc had i fli'ong referiiblance td the ancient Eg^ptiafts ^ like them, under ^ (ky corlftantly ftr6he, they Were a people indurtrious and ingerilbiis ; cul- tivating the arts, but without bringing them to perfediori ; inclined to fupcrftitiop, and of ^ foft un warlike tempet*. ' " *
Theynca Guaiani Capac having conquered the province of Quito, Which now makes a part of Spanifh Peru, to fecure himfelf ih the pofleffion, married the daughter of the natural prince of the country. By her he had a fon called Atahunlpa, or Atabali]ia. By a former marriage he had a fon named Huefcar, heir pf his other domiilious. On his death Huefcar,
' his
Settlements in America. 135
his dd^ft foo, claims his whole dominiojas, both hereditaiy aijid acquired. Atabalipa, the youngeft, without p^tending to the reft, would keep Quito as his right by the double title of fon to the conqueror, and to h ir whofe inheritance that kingdom was, fortified befides by the will which the dying ynca had made in his favour. This difpute kindled a civil, war, which, after various turns of fortune, ended at laft in favour pf Atabalipa ; he not only routed his brother's armies, and over- run his dominions, but adually held him a prifoner in the caflle of Cufco.
Such was the face of affairs when the Spa- niards arrived in Peru, whofe remarkable ap- pearance and furprizing feats of arms were every where fpread about the country, and caufed a general alarm. As ufual in frightful rumours, new fuperflitions begin, or old one§ are revived to increafe the confufion. There fubfifted a tradition amongft the Peruvians, that one of their ancient princes had a dream, which he ordered carefully to be recorded. He imagined that he faw a man cloathed al) over, even to his feet, with a long beard, and leading in his hand an aniqial, fuch as he ha4 never feen before ; apd that at the fame time he was clearly injformed pf the will of the gods, that fuch a man fhould rule that coun- try. A Spaniard, whom Pizarro had fent upon an embafly to Atabalipa, as foon as he
' K 4 wag
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136 An Account of the European
was difcovered leading his horfe upon fome occafion that made him difmount, agreed fo well with this dream, that it is incredible how foon it fpread into the remoteft parts of the country, and with how great ^ terror it llruck the wi>ole nation.
Atabalipa, newly feated upon a precarious throne, was not the leaft alarmed at this event, for a new-ercdtcd power has every thing to fear from whatever fcts the people's mihds, ftill unfettled, upon a new motion. He re- folved, if poflible, that his enemies fhould take no advantage of the arrival of thofe ftrangefs, by engaging them by all means to his own intcrcft. He therefore received the embaffadors which Pizarro had fent with the greateft marks of honour, though their dif- courfe, confifting itfelf of very impertinent matter, was very ill interpreted to him, as was his tp them. He even went out to meet Pizarro with a yafl number of attendants, to whom he gave the ftrideft charge upon no accpunit to offer the leaft injury to the ftran- gers, ^s they were thofe of whom his prede- ccffor had foretold, and of the fame divine original, children of the fun. But Pizarro, who advanced with other notions to the inter- view, foon convinced him that a contrary caution was more neceffary. They met near a celebrated temple, the Spaniards drawn up jp order of battle, and a party in ambufcade.
. ■ Thitj
SETTLftMENTS tn AMERICA. I37
This circumftance leaves us in no doubt as to the delign of Pizarro. The firfl perfon who addreffed himfclf to the ynca, was father Vincent, a mar, who was not afliamed to make his character the inflrument of fo bafe a crime. He advanced with a crofs in his hand, and began a mod unfeafonable dif- courfe upon the birth and miracles of Chrift, exhorting him to become a chriftian, on the pain of eternal punifliment. Then he fpoke with equal eloquence of the emperor of the Romans, preffing him with the fame flrength of argument to become a fubjedt to that em- peror ; threatening him in cafe of obftinacjr, that God would harden his heart as he did Pharaoh's, and then punifh him with the plagues of Egypt \ with other miferable (luff, worfe interpreted. The ynca, though utter- ly aftoniflied at matter fo unaccountable, be- haved with decency and gravity, telling him, that he believed that he and his companions were children of the fun, recommended him- felf and his fubjeds to their protedion, and made no doubt but they would behave to them in a manner worthy the offspring of fo bene- ficent a deity.
Whilfl thefe difcourfes continued, the Spa- nifh foldlcrs, whofe leaft bulinefs to Peru was to liften to fermons, obferving a condderablc quantity of gold in the neighbouring temple, had their zeal immediately (lirred up, and a
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138 -^'lAecouNT of the Ej3'R&?'irAu
party of theoa began to pillage itj. The pri^fts smde fome oppo&ion. A diilurbacice enfued, and a great noife^ which (o alaroa^d Qur ad- venturing apoftk^ that he let fall his crpfs and hreviary in his fright, and turned bi^ back upon his intended profelyte^ The Spa- niards who were not concerned in the pillage, feeing him fly, either that they judged thq heathens had offered their prieft fome vio- lence, or that Pizarro made ufe of this fig^ nal to them to fall on, immediately drew their fwords, attacked the guards and atten- dants of the ynca, defencelcfs through a rc-r ligious obedience to their fovereign's com-'' mand, and with every circumftance of the moft deliberate and (hocking barbarity, fl^ughr tered h^e thoufand, which was near the whole number of the Indians, who fell with- out any anxiety for their own lives, prelBng forward with all the zeal and officioufnefs pf a moft heroic loyalty to the chair of their prince, to expire at his feet ; and as faft as one fet of his fupporters were flain, the other? fucceeded with eagemefs to fupply their places, and fliare their fate. The ynca at laft was dragged down, and mide a prifoner, by an adt of the moft unparallelled treachery, exe- cuted with a cruelty that has hardly an ex- ample, and can admit of no excufe, The plunder of his camp, rich beyond the idea of any European of that time, was their reward.
The
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The ttttfai^tuflate prince was not wawting to bkfiielf in hid captivity. Seeing that bis li- b6ity had fatten » facrifice to their avarice, he hoped to relieve himfelf by working upon the fame dffpoficionr He began to treat of his- f^fjfom, a(nd prom^ifed fuch fums as afto- riifbcdf the Spafiiai^ds into an agreenient ; nor wa^ the performance uneqiiaL On this oc- cafion not only the ancient ornaments and va- (uafhle furniture, amaifed by a long line of nfiagnificent kings, were brought out ; but the hallowed treafores of the moft venerated temples were givdn without fcruple, to fave him who was the fupport of the kingdom ^rid the religion. Whilft thefe were pre- paring, three Spaniards, who were fent to Cufco to fuperintend in the work, had means of conferring with Huefcar, who quickly finding their foible, and the ufe his brother had made of it, made bitter complaints of the injuries he had fu^ered, begging the Spaniards, as the patrons of the oppreffed, to embrace his caufe, promifing ^threefold the treafure for theif affiftance, which Atabalipa was to pay for his ranfora. He received a very fa- vourable anfwer. Mean time the Spaniards treated the ynca with all manner of civility, admitted his attendants to him, but no talk of his liberty. As foon as he had been ap- prifed of Huefcar*s negotiation with the Spa- niards, and Almagro's arrival with an addi- tional
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tional force, he began to be under great ap- prehenfions. To cafe himfelf upon one fide, he fent immediate orders to have Huefcar put to death. - -.
The arrival of Almagro, on the other hand, caufed feme embarraflment in Pizarro*s affairs. This commander finding that Pizarro had feized the ynca with immenfe treafures, and having already experienced his ill faith, con- fulted with his principal officers about leaving Pizarro's part to himfelf, and feeking their fortune elfewhcre. Whilft this was in agita- tion, his fecretary, moved by fome refent- ment to his mafter, gave Pizarro notice of the defign. In an inflant Pizarro faw how difadvantageous fuch a fl:ep muft prove to him, with fo fmall a force, all refources at d^ diftance, and the country exafperated by tho deteftable action he had lately committed. He faw that all depended upon removing every fufpicion from the breaft of Almagro. For this purpofe, and as fomething of an ill mind appeared in his moft nlafterly adtions, he be- gan by facrificing the fecretary. He informed Almagro of his treachery. Next, though gold was the great objedl of his undertakings 1 yet he knew how to relinqaifti feme part to fecure the reft. He agreed to divide the fpoil equally between Almagro and himfelf, and to make no diftindion between the foildiers of cither in the diftribution. This made ^i>
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entire and hearty reconciliation ; which was no fooner concluded than the ynca's ranfom came in, &.
But this vaft treafure, the capital objedt of all their labours and villainies, no fooner came into their poifeilion, but in its confequences it was very near being the utter ruin of their affairs. It is faid, and not improbably, that the whole exceeded the fum of one million five hundred thoufand pounds flerling, a fum vaft at the prefent time j then it was a pro- digy. On the dividend, after deducing a fifth for the emperor, and the fhares of the chief commanders and officers, each private foldier had above two thoufand pounds Eng- lifli money. They had now made a fortune even beyond their imaginations ; but the fol- diery was ruined, the greateft part of the army infiiled upon being difcharged, that they .might enjoy their fortunes in quiet. This propofal ill fuited with the ambitious views of the commanders. Almagro was for proceed- ing in the ufual way, to enforce obedience by the feverity of military difcipline ; but Pizarro oppofed him. ** Let them go, fays he, they cannot do us better fervice j here we (hall have them mutinous and cowardly foidiers, at home they will a^ for us as recruiting officers with great fuccefs ; for when it (hall be i^tn that common foidiers of fo little merit as they, have made fuqh large fortunes, we (hall not
long
142 v^ Account (fshe £tTlioi*£Afir
^Icrng want better men to fupply their plaoes.*^ The defire of the fdldicrs was complied with, and as many as chofe to go, who were no in- •confidcrable nunaber, departed. In due tirfie -rfic fagacious prophecy cf Pizarro was ac- <»ompli(hed, and theirarmy never wanted re- inforcements.
. CHAP. XVL -
irS^ murder oj fheynca. A dijput€ between Pizarrt) and Almagro. They are reconciled* Almagros ticpediikn to Chili, The Peru- vians renew the war^ and4>efiege Cufco. AU magro returns and defeats ihem, Ahnagro :renews the quarrel ^ith PizarrOy butisde-- "Jiated and put to death.
»r
IN* the* mean time the unfortunate Atahalipa, the greatnefs x)f whofe-ranfom- only con- vinced tihte Spaniards 6f the neeefllty of never r.ekafing'him, endeavoured to take advantage df his captivity, to know the genius and nwn- ncrs of this people. Amongft all their ac- sconrplifliments, there was nothing he fo mudh admired as the art of reading and writing. This appeared almoft incomprehcnfible to him, through he faw clearly the ufc of it. He was at a lofs to know whether he fhould con* fider it as a natural endowment, or as an ac- quifition of art. To difcover * this,, he one
day
SETTLEMElITiB tfl AMERICA. 143
day defired a ibldier to write the name of God upon his nati : he carried this about 'the arfily, dcfiiring fevcral to explain it, which Ihey all did, to his wonder and fatisikdion. At iaft he (hewed it to Pizarro, but Pizarro hluthed, and could make nothing of it. The ynca then perceived it was no natural gift, but owing to education ; the^-ant of vwhich he thus difcovcred in Pizarro, and flighted hitn for it. This mortifidd the general, and his difguft, joined to ^his natural crueky, and apolicy he thought he fawinthe proceeding, made him haften the fateihe^had fomeftlme before determined for his unhappy prifoner. That nothing riyght be i wanting to the bold- nftfs and atrocloufn^fs of- their barbarity, they proceeded againft him by way of trial, and by the forms of law.
A charge was exhibited, digefted under fe- veralheads. iftj For being an idolater, adly. For having many concubines, gdly,: For waft- ing the treafures of thfe^ldngdom, -and raiiing taxes iincethe coming in of the Spatikfds. And laftly, For the murder of his btsothier -Huefear. An attorney-general ivas ia;ppoi»t<ai to^manage the itccufation, iand lan solviooMie appoiiiHed from iatnongft thcmfdves ^affignsd for bis defence. In vain did the mope mi- mierous add better part of the army proteil ^inft this proceeding, and k>dge an appeal -to Spaitij in>vaan did they attedge their want
of
! -I II
144 ^n AccoiiUT of fie EuKOTEAfi of power to judge a foreign prince for any crimes, and the abfurdity of the crimes with which this prince was charged. Before fuch judges, and with fuch an advocate to defend him, the ynca was condemned to be burned alive. To compleat this violation and mockery of all laws, human and divine, the fame fa- ther Vincent, who had fo fignalizcd himfelf upon a former occafion, was fent to comfort and inftrudt him in his lafl moments. The chief argument which he ufed to convert him to chriftianity was, that on his embracing the faith, inflead of being burned, his fentence fhould be mitigated to ftrangling. This prince fubmitted to baptifm, and was imme- diately ftrangled in prifon, Pizarro gave the final ftroke to his hardened and fhamelefs villainy, by giving him z magnificent funeral, and going into mourning.
The death of the ynca was no fooner fpread abroad, than the principal nobility at Cufco fet up the brother of Huefcar; Pizarro fct up a fon of Atabalipa -, and iwo generals of the Peruvians fet up for themfelves* Thus was this wretched country torn to pieces at once by foreigners, and by a domeilic war amongft themfelves. Yet fuch is the prefe- rence of any fort of fpirit roufed within a nation, to a lethargic inactivity, that the Pe- ruvians gained fome confiderable- advantages over the Spaniards, even in this diftradted con- dition.
Settlements in America. 145
dition, and took feverd prifoners, amongft whom Was the attorney-general, whom they put to the death he deferved without any great formality. The reft of the prifoners, fis foon as they Were informed of their having protefted againft the emperor's death, they generoufly releafed. Thefe advantages gained by the Peruvians, made the Spaniards liften to a treaty ; for Pizarro was equally ready at all times to make a peace, or to break it, as his affairs required. He made ufeof this in-
• terval to fettle the Spaniards in the country. It was now that he laid the foundations of the famous city of Lima. But as foon as he judg- ed himfelf in a condition to profecute it, he renewed the war with the Indians, and after many difficulties, made himfelf mafter of Cuf- cOi then the capital of the empire.
But whilft he was thus by force and fraud eftablifhing himfelf every where, the whole fabric of his deifigns was fhaken by a frefti difpute between him and his collegue Alma- gro. Thefe commanders had little mutual affedtion, and lefs confidence in each other's honour and integrity j for fimilarity of man- ners is no groun4 of friendfhip, but where the manners are good in themfelves. Their common neceffities, it is true, obliged them for a time to keep a fair appearance j but each fatisfied of the other's ill intentions, watched an opportunity. of being before -bami in fome
;j;,.ypL. I. L finifter
W
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146 u4^ Account 0/ /fo European finifter advantage. New grants and fupplics had lately arrived from Spain. Pizarro ob- tained two hundred leagues along the fea- coaft, to the Southward of his forojer govern- ment. Almagro had a grant of two hundred more to the Southward of Pizarro's. Judg- ing, or pretending he judged, that the weal- thy and important city of Cufco was not in- cluded within Pizarro's grant, he immediately ceafed to adt in fubordination to him, and claimed this city as his property. Pizarro's brother, who commanded for him, abfolute-' ly refufed to deliver up the place. Almagro infifted on it with equal obflinacy, and they were on the point of deciding the difpute by the fword, when Pizarro, the motnent he had notice of the quarrel, fet out from Lima, where he was at that time indifpofed, and notwithftanding his infirmity, with incredible expedition arrived at Cufco. He told his col- legue, that he was not unable nor afraid to fupport the juftice of his claim by arms ; but he chofe rather to convince him by reafon ; that the ties which fubfifted between them and their common neceffities. Would alvt^ys touch him with concern when he fliould be compelled to violent courfes; which, how^ ever they might end with r^ard to the com^ petitors, would certainly be much more in •favour of the common enemy. He demon- ftrated to him, that Cufco was indubitably
within
SfiTTtEMfei^JTS in America. 147
^^IthiiT bis (Pizarro's) government, and ended in ajjuring him, that as he would defend his own right with all his force, fo he was equally willing to employ all that force, with ail his treafiire, and all his counfel, and whatever af- fiftance he could give, to put Almagro into poffeffion of whatever was really his right ; that this lay yet more to the Southward than Cufco, and was a country no way inferior in its richts, and the eafinefs of the conquefl.
This timely appearance of Pizarro, his dex- terous management, and judicious mixture of firmnefs and flexibility, made fuch an impref- fion upon Almagro, that he was once more re- conciled ; and adding as many of Pizarro's troops to his own as he judged necelTary, he penetrated with great danger' and difficulty in- to Chili, lofing many of his men whilft he paffed over mountains of an immenfe height, and always covered with fnow. He fucceed- ed notwithftanding in a good meafure in his defigns, for he reduced a valuable and confi- derable part of that country.
There was undoubtedly in the four hun- dred leagues which Pizarro had follicited for himfelf, enough of land to fupply any reafon- able anabition, and fomething to fpare, to fe- cure the quiet poffeffion of the reft ; but his eagernefs after a large territory, made him blind to the folly of dividing his troops, and fendin^g Almagro upon a wild diftant expedi-
L 2 tion :
148 An Account of the European
tion ; and yet he conlidered this as a nlafter^ piece of policy. A little time, however, con- vinced him to the contrary. No fooner did the ynca perceive this diviiion of the Spanifli troops, than he defired leave from Pizarro's brother, who managed affairs for him at Cuf* CO, to affift at a folemn feftival of his nation, which was to be held at fome diftahcc. This feaft was in reality ^ fort of an affembly of the ftates of the kingdom. The ynca having obtained permiffion to affift at it, made ufe of this opportunity to reprefent to his fubjedts in the moft pathetic rianner, the mifery to which the nation was reduced ; the fettle- ment of the Spaniards, the cities they had built, the garriibn they kept at Cufco, and the guard they had on his own perfon* That for their fakes he was now refolved to hazard that perfon, and every thing that was dear to him ; that now was the time to make an ef- fort with fuccefs, when their enemies, divided amongft themfelves, had feparated in fearch of other kingdoms, to fatisfy an ambition that nothing could fatiate. The whole affembly united in thefe fentiments 5 they roufed the country every where, and the Spaniards who remained in Peru were not able to prevent the ynca from laying liege to Cufco, with an army of two hundred thoufand men. The garrifon under Ferdinand Pizarro, though conlifting of no more than leventy men, yet
with
Settlements tn America. 149
with their artillery, the fallics made with their horfe, and affifted by the ignorance of the Peruvians in carrying on a iiege, their de- fence was as fuccefsful as it was brave.
News was brought to Almagro of the dan- gers to which Cufco was expofed, and the univerfal infurredtion of the Peruvians. Re- linquifhing his new conqueds, he haded back to preferve his old with great expedition ; though on his return he fuffered as much from drought and heat, as in his progrefs he had endured from cold. At his approach the Indians raifed the fiege, and he was joyfully received into Cufco by Ferdinand Pizarro, and the garrifon, alnioft exhaufled by the length of the defence.- ^^^ -'''^ ' ^^ ^ > i ' After all thefe long and laborious marches, Almagro was extremely fatigued, and thought it hard, that now in the wane of his life he (hould be driven with infinite toil upon new conquefts, while Pizarro fat down at eafe to enjoy alone the fruits of their common la- bours. He refolved to renew his claim to Cufco } he had now a fort of right to it by having raifed the fiege, and he had a (Irength fufficient to fupport that right. Ferdinand and Gonzalo, the two brothers of Pizarro, making fome oppofition, were thrown into prifon, and their little army either joined him, or (hared the fame fate.
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J 50 An Account of the Eurofeak
Pizarro, unacquainted with the- arrivsi of Almagro, or the ft^p he hacj tajce% l^ad got together an army for the relief of Cufco^ who were near the town befpre thpy fpund they had an enejny of any oth^r fort thao the Indians to contend wit)i, Ahiiagro, aft^^ hav- ing tried in vain to feduce their fidelity, en^ gaged and routed theoiiv. On this ad^aj^tagei his friends reprefented to hin;., thgt now was the happy hour of his fort^jji \ ajid that he ought to employ it to eiiabhfli himfclf be*- yond all poffibility of being moved. Ifhajt he ought to pqt the Pizarros, his prifbncrs, to death, and march diredly to Lima, to feizc upon his rival, who never coujd be h§ai?tily reconciled to hin>, and whilft he remained in poffeffion of the fea-coaft, could never want means of making his epmjty terrible> AJr magro had humanity enough to liejpft th^ firft part of this counfel, and weaknefs coough not to hearken to thq lail. Jf he marched into another's government, he trembled ^ the name of a rebel j and for fear of the name expofed hipifelf to fufFer the punifliment of the thing ; not confidering, that having onc^ embrued his hands in civil blood, he ought never to flop till his end was gained ; that jconqueft alone could decide the queftion p5 their right ; and that he who had thp greater force, v/ould have the heft means of protec- fjpp, if }i^ w^s in the wrong. Whilft he deli-
Settlements in America. 151
berated what courfe to take, Gonzalo Pizarro made his eicape with an hundred of thofe who were afFedted to his caufe.
It was the intereft of Pizarro, who found himfelf in no immediate condition to carry on the war, yet poffeffed all the means of be- ing reinforced^ to keep matters from coming to an extremity ; it was Almagro's to bring them to a fpeedy iffuc ; and in this knowledge of the management of time, when to lie by to gain it, and when to ufe the prefent mo- ment, the great fkili in buiiniefs, fo little un- derftood, depends almoft entirely. Pizarro had recourfe to the old way of treaty ji he promif^d largely, he oflfered a fea-port, and agreed to fubmit the deciiion of all their dif- piites to the royal audience ; but as ^ preli- miaary, he inilAed on the releafe of his bro- ther Ferdinand. Experienced as Almagro was in Pizarro's faith, he gave up the only pledge that could fecure it. The moment Ferdi- nand was rcleafed, he was put at the head of the reinforcements Pizarro had long expc(ft- ed, and now received ; and as he was a man of capacity, he prepared to a<ft with vigour. The treaty was forgot.
The country which held for Almagro was feparated from that which Pizarro pofTefTed, by vatt mountains paflable only in feme fteep and dangerous defiles. Almagro's counfellors advifed him by all means to poft his troops in
L 4 fuch
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152 j^n Account of the European
fuch a manner as to oppofe his enemies in thole paflTes ; but fo infatuated was he with a falfe fecurity, that he refufed to fend any troops to occupy thofc important ports, which were feized by the enemy without the leail oppofitlon. He had, however, one refourcc left, and that a good one. The town of Cuf- co was well fortified, had a good garrifon, and the enemy was ill provided for carrying on the ficge. But as he had prejudiced his affairs before by dilatory meafures, he now compleatly ruined them by precipitation and temerity. He turned his back upon the ad- vantages of his iituation, and refolved^ con- trary to the opinion of all his officers, to ha- zard his fortune in the field ; confident of his own fuperiority, and full of contempt of the enemy, whom he believed to be raw troops. But he found too late, that they were veterans of great bravery, and exadt difcipline. The engagement was warm; in which Almagro and his troops behaved ir.\ fuch a manner as not to difgrace their former exploits,; but af- ter a gallant ftruggle, they were in the end entirely defeated. Almagro himfelf was taken prifoner, and fell, at the age of feventy-three years, a viffmi to a raihnefs fcarce excufeable in a young foldier ; but to the laft degree blameable in an experienced commander, who being fuppofed to have long eftabliflied his reputation for courage beyond all doubt, ought
to
. Settlements in America. 153
to model his conduct only by his own expe- rience, and the circumftances of the affair in which he is engaged.
Pizarro having got the rival, who had caufed him fo many appreheniions, into his hands, refolved to (hew him no ipercy. In fpite of Almagro's age, which, as it might re- move his fears, ought to have given room for pity } in fpite of their common warfare, their dangers and triumphs ; in fpite of every fen- timent of gratitude for what this unfortunate man had contributed to his greatnefs, and in fpite of his late qiercy to his brother; all which were pathetically and ftrongly urged by Almagro, tofuffer an old man, and a prifoner too, after fo many fruitlefs toils, to die quietly in his bed, Pizarro was deaf to every thing but a barbarous policy, which made him fub- mit every virtue to the fecuring the meaneft part of his defigns. Almagro was formally tried, fentenced, and then flrangltd in prifon. His body was afterwards beheadeo publickly a fcaffold, and for a lotjg time denied
on
burial. A negro (lave interred it by (lealth, Amidd the pity which this barbarous execu- tion caufed, people could not forbear rccol- leding the unhappy fate of Atahualpa, and the jfhare which Ahiiagro had in it.
It
C II A P.
Jf54 -^'i? Account tf tie Evrofeah
C H A F. XVIt
Tbejinal difperfion of the Peruvian army^ The confpirifcy againft Pizarro, He is murdered,
WHILST this civil war raged, the ynca took a very extraordinary refolution. He difbanded his troops, and retired to the; mountains ; " Becaufe, fays he, whilft wc are- in arms, their fear of us will be a means of uniting the Spaniards, but if we difperfe, they will certainly deftroy each other.*' A re- iblution this, which at iirfl view has fome- thing naafterly, but it is only when viewed in one light. When their natural prince is fled, the people who mull be governed, may give the reins of government into the hands of the enemy. An army once difperfed is got toge- ther again with great difficulty; and on the other hand, a civil war is by no jneans a cer* tain deftrudlion to thofe who are engaged in it : and indeed by the reafon of the thing, and by the event, it was an ill-judged ftep, the fcheme of a barbarous prince, who was far from being a confummate politician. ^
It was very ruinous to the Peruvians, that happening to be divided amongft themfelves when the Spaniards came in, they fufFered them to interfere in their parties ; but it was of yet worfe confecjuence, that when the Spa- niards
&RTTLEMEHT3; in AMERICA* 1 55
niacds, wers aftpcwards dSvidisd, they inteifi^red themfHves in tl^e SpaonKh paotios. Aknagpo and Pizarro had arnoiios of Indians, by which thiofe people were habituated to obey them, and 10 be interefled in thicir fuccete \ this, joined to the want of any regular plian of de- fence om the part of their kiog and comman- ders, fubdued that empire to Pi^arro with fmall firoubk, if we confider the gpeatnefs of the objedi. tkit havijig atchicved lb great a cojoqudd, it only made Piz^Fro acq^iainted with other great tradts which were rich, ai^ might be added to them. He followed the tracks of Almagro info Chili, and redwed a confidcrabfe part of the country. OFcUana, one of his commanders, pafled the AndeSj and failed down to the mouth of the river of Amazons; an immenfe navigation, which difcovercd a rich and delightful country, but as it is mollly flat, and therefore not abound- ing in minerals, the Spaniards then, and ever fince, negkifted it. . „ : .-
The death of Almagro, and the influence it had ppon the condud: of Pizarro, is a ftrik- ing example how neceffary it is for a great plan to have an awe upon him from fome oppofitiop, that may keep his prudence alive, and teach him to have a watch upon his paf- fions. Not content with a territory upwards pf eight hundred leagues long, and of a pro- digious breadth, riches fuch as none of the
kings
k
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156 An AccouN T of the European
kings of his country had ever poiTeiTed, a ju- rifdidion little lefs than royal, and an abfolute fecurity for the extindtton of the only perfon who had any pretentions againfl him, either through a jealoufy which often haunts the happiefl fortune, or through a pride which cannot bear even the appearance of any who had once withftood his power, he took a re- folution entirely to cut off all that had ever adhered to his rival ; he did not know when the iffue of blood ought to be (lopped \ nor that examples of feverity on a few create ter- ror and fubmiflion, but that threats of gene- ral deilrudtion produce nothing but defpair and defperate refolutions. He was not fatif- fied with putting many to death, but ilTued a proclamation, inhibiting under the fame pe- nalty, that any perfon (hould harbour, or even relieve an Almagrian with the neceifaries of life. This party was yet numerous, though dif- pcrfed and lurking about the country. The heads of them finding Pizarro implacable, en- tered into a confpiracy to murder him. They did not want adherents in the city, fo that they found means of concealing themfelves until their plot (hould be ripe for execution ; but by fome means Pizarro difcovered their defigns, and fuffered them to know he had difcovered them. Alarmed at this informa- tion, they faw nothing could happen but death at any fide. Twelve of the. chiefs marched
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Settlements in America. 157
into the ftreets at noon-day, with their fwords drawn, crying out, " Long live the king ! but let the traitor die ;" and croffing the great fquare of Lima, made diredtly to Pizarro's palace 5 the reft followed in different parties* The people all the while fufpended, and in that inactive amazement which the execution of a bold and fuddcn enterprize generally in- fpires, made no oppofition. The confpira- tors fecured the avenues s and Pizarro, not alarmed until he was furrounded by his ene- mies, fell under their fwords, after having fold his life dearly. ^^^ i * * ^ *^
Thus died Pizarro, by an event extremely memorable. A great conqueror, in the city he had himfelf built, in his own palace, amidft his guards murdered at noon-day by the hands of a fmall number of fugitives. The Peruvians had the fatisfadtion to fee the fecond of their conquerors cut off by the fame fword that had afflidted themfclves.
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158 An Account of the EoAopeam
c H A P. xvm.
Toung Almagro made governor, 7& new vice-^ roy Vaca di Cafiro arrives. Puts to death youT^ Almagro, Puts an end to the faSiions^ dnd Jetties the province. He is recalled, Gon» zah Pizarro raifes a rebellion^ and ufurps the government, Peter de la Gafca made vi^e^ roy. Defeats the troops of Pizarro^ and puts bim t^ detifh.
WHEN Pizarro had fallen in confe- quence of thofe cruel and ill-judged flcps which he took for his fecurity, the Al- mogrians, elate with their fuccefs, and grow- ing into a formidable body, feized upon the ci^, and proclaimed the natural ion of old AJmagro governor J a youth not twenty years of age, but of a courage andcapa'^ity not abfo* lutely unequal to a charge of fuch impor- tance, undertaken in circumftances fo critical. But though the Almagrians fucceeded beyond their hopes, by the con ftcr nation caufed by the fuddennefs of the attempt, and the general dillike to the cruel procedure of Pizarro ; the major part of the Spaniards were far from ac- quiefcing in this irregular nomination of a governor. A confiderable number, and thofe of the bed men, declared, that without inte- refting themfclves in the quarrel of either
party,
Settleihemts in America.* 159
party, they would wait for the emperor's dc^ termination, which they expelled hourly, and to which alone they were refolved to conform thcmfelves.
In this ftate of things the new govdrhor Vaca di Caftro arrived. This man was of a good fomily, and by profeffion a lawyer ; but through a more rigid adherence to the ftrid:-^ eft ideas of right and jufticc than is fuitablc to the coarfenefs of pradice, he did not makfc that figure in his profeiBon to which his great Capacity entitled him. But what kept him backward at the bar, recommended him firfl to the knowledge, and afterwards to theefteem of his matter the emperor Charles the Vth, who was a man of too much difcernment not to be ftruck with a charadler fo fingular as Was that of one who was a lawyer, without exercifing the trade of law, and lived at court without being a courtier. Therefore, without any foUicitation of his own, without any re- commendation from a minifter or favourite, this man's plain unottentsltious virtue placed him in an employment of fo great a truft. When he arrived in the Indies he ftill prc- ferved his charafter. He adled like one who came neither to acquire friends nor fortune, but folely to do his duty ; and he (hewed fa- vour or difapprobation to all in proportion as they performed their's. Indian or Spaniard was entirely alike to the equality of his ju*.
ttice.
" '. if" '■ ■ III
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160 -^//Account c/* /i6^ European
ftice. He l^attered nobody, he threatened nobody, and v/hilft he lived with all the mo- defly of a private man, he fupported all the dignity of a governor. :.*:i^ : .
- He was hardly landed, when young Alma- gro fent him an embaffy, explaining the rca- fons of his condudl, and propoling terms -, but Caftro anfwered him, that he was come under the emperor's authority, folely to do him and every body juftice j of which, if a good fubjed, he could have no room to com- plain 5 if a bad one, he muft prepare to feel it : he knew no other terms. This was new language to governors in this part of the world, who almoft forgot they had a fuperior. Al- magro therefore was refolved to abide the for- tune of war, rather than fubmit without fuch terms as might cnfurc him the government of his father's province at leaft. On the other hand, Caftro would hear of no terms between a king and his fubjeds, and therefore fet himfelf at the head of his troops, which were compofed of thofe who had refufed to obey Almagro, and gave him battle. The vidtory was on his fide, but not without a bloody difpute.
Several of Almagro*s officers, in hopes of procuring favour for themfelves, betrayed his caufe in the battle ; but Caftro was far from thinking their treachery to their leader, could be reckoned a fervice to the crown, and there- fore
ii
SETTtfeMkNTS in AMERieA. l6l
fore fpared none of them in the numerous exe- cutions he found it neceifary to make on this occafion. None of the fufferers was more pitied than Almagro, who behaved with the utmoft gallantry in the engagementi as he had done with much humanity and honour upon mod occafions. He was taken and be- headed. "^ ! '"' "^' r
The feverity of this procedure^ whilft it terrified every body, drew no odium upon the governor, who adted clearly without prejudice, or felf-interefl. They looked on thcfe exe- cutions like judgments from heaven which afHid; us bitterly, but leave no room for mur- mur or coniplaint againil the hand that infli(ft8 them. To the followers of Pizarro, who valued themfelves on their late fervice, and murmured that they were not rewarded bet- ter than he thought they deferved, he (hewed little favour. He told them he could well diflinguifh between what was done out of a fpirit of party, and what proceeded from a principle of loyalty to their fovereigt) ; that they might look upon themfelves as very hap- py that he fufFered their lad aiftion to oblite- rate the memory of all their others. In (hort, he proceeded with fuch conftancy, that the Spaniards were reduced to an entire fubjedion, and the Indians treated by them as fellow- fubjeds and fellow-^creatures. The clergy he made to attend diligently to the duty of their
Vol. L M fundion.
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funftion, and to the converfion of the In- dians, rather than lo the acquifition of their gold. He modelled the adminiftration of ju- Sice in the exadteft manner. He founded feveral towns, and ettablilhed fchools and col- leges in them, and placed the royal revenues on fuch a footing, that the conqueft of Peru became immediately a great public advantage, which formerly was little more than an ob- jedt of private plunder. But whilA: he re- mained himfelf poor among fome of the rich- eft confifcations that ever were made, and whilft he enriched the royal treafury with moft prodigious remittances, the great men at court received no prefents. This induced them to get a number of judges appointed, whofe authority over-ruled that of Caftro. The end was anfwcred. Difputes afofe j the colony was unfettled j appeals and complaints innumerable came home, and prefents from all fides. But what anfwered the prei'ent end of the courtiers, was near flopping up the fpring of bribery for the future. In the con- fulion that arofe from fuch clafliing jurifdic- tions, and the fchemes of men intent upon their own intcrefts, it was not hard for Gon- zalo, the brother of the famous Pizarro, to avail himfelf of the general difcontent, and ato fet himfelf at the head of a party. ;!£ Jt was now no longer a difpute between go- Hvernors about tie bounds of their jurifdidtions; °o°' 'i ^ * - Gonzalo
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Settl£mei4ts in America* 163
Gonzalo PizapFO only paid a nominal fubmif- fion to th^ emperor. He ftrengthened daily, and even went fo far as to behead a viceroy who was fent to curb him. There was a fleet at this time in the South- Seas, and he had addrefs enough to gain the admiral to his interefts ; by which means he was able to over-awe the coafl: of Mexico, and prevent any force coming againft him from that part. He even entertained hopes of gaining the Spaniards in that kingdom to join in his revolt. The court, juftly alarmed at this progrefs, having felt the ill effed: of fending men who were recommended to their ports by impor- tunity and cabal, as they had experienced the beneficial confequences of employing ]>erfons whofe charadter only pleaded for them, they fent a licentiate in divinity, called Peter de la Gafca, a man differing only from Caftro, that he was of a milder and more inHnuating be- haviour, but with the fame love of juftice, the fame greatnefs of foul, and the fame dif- interefted fpirit. This mildnefs of charader fuited the circum (lances of the times, as well as the rigid juftice of Caflro did thofe in which he was appointed ; for as the revolt was now ahnofl: general, he could find no friends but fuch as he fhould make ; for though he was inverted with the amplert authority from Spain, he neither carried men to enforce ir, '.> •.-...•.<. » . . . M 2 45» nor
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164 An Account of the European nor money ; and the whole fuccefs of the ex- pedition refted folely in his own capacity. .4, When he arrived in Mexico, he declared that his was a peaceable profeflion 3 that he pame not to exercife feverities, but to heal by gentle meafures the efFedts of thofc which were formerly exercifed. He even wrote a very obliging letter to Pizarro, perfuading him to fubmit, and offering him a free pardon for himfelf and his afTociates. In the mean time he was not wanting in more vigorous mea- fures ; but by his engaging addrefs, and the reputation of his probity, raifed large fums of money, and fome hundreds of men. Pizarro, puffed up by his fuccefs, received the embaf- fador with great haughtinefs, and fjnt his an- fwer, which was likewife that of his affociates, by the admiral j it was in effedt, that neither would he yield up his government, nor would they fubmit to have any other governo*-. The admiral had inftruc^ions to try what bribery would do, and if that failed, to fire the city of Panama, and bring off the new viceroy prifoner. However, during their conferences, the affair took abfolutely another turn, and the admiral, inftead of conveying Gafca a pri- foner to Peru, tranfported him thither with all his forces, returning to his allegiance him- felf, and perfuading all his adherents to be hearty in the royal caufe. The viceroy did not at all alter the profeiTions and behaviour he
had
iJ
Settlements /« Amemca, 165
had ufed in Mexico, but every where pro- claiming peace and pardon, at the head of a powerful force, he drew the cities of Lima and Cufco from the party of Pizarro ; who find- ing hinifelf obliged to evacuate the moft conr fiderable places of ftrength, with very un- equal forces hazarded a battle, in which he was made prifoner. He was foon after con- demned and executed, with thofe who had been the chief inftruments of his rebellion.
Such an ill ftar governed all thofe who had a (hare in the redudtion of Peru ! Almagro be- headed i his fon Hiaring the fame fate ; Pi- zarro murdered in his own palace ; his bro- ther Ferdinand kept a prifoner twenty-three years ; and his other brother Gonzalo, as we have juft feen, fufFering death as a traitor. The new governor having by neceffary feverities quieted his province, took cfFedual care to heal its diforders by the arts of peace, and to compleat what Caftro had been obliged to leave unfiniflied. He fettled the civil govern- ment, the army, and the mines, upon fuch a bafis as made the province worthy to be plundered by future viceroys. He carried over two millions to the royal treafury, paid all his debts, and fate down as poor in Spain as he had left it. - " ^'-
The reduction of the great empires of Peru and Mexico, makes almoft the only thing very much worth infifting upoo in the Ame-r
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rican hiftory. L few fkifmi^cs with a iavage people, and fome voyages and difcO^veries ex- a(Jl:ly refembling each other, changing only the names and fituatidns, is thefniatter, which, in my opinion, unprofitably fills fo many vo- lumes, and contains very little of either cu- riofity or inftrudlion. However, when I come to treat of the feveral European fettlehifefits particularly, I (hall not ornit to mention any thing in their hiftory that contmns either the one or the other. '^»^^vu:!? ;^;ti ik •: n /i:^
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Settlements in America. 167
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TX^ perfons of the Americam, I'beir drcfs and ivay of living. Their manner of converfing^ Their hofpitality. Their temper. Their re- ligion and fuperjiitions. Their medicine.
TH E Aborigines of Araerica, through- out the whole extent of the two vafl continents which they inhabit, and amongft the infinite number of nations and tribes intq which they are divided, differ very little from each other in their manners and cuftomsj and they all form a very flriking pldlure of the moil diftant antiquity. Whoever coniiders the Americans of this day, not only ftudies the manners of a remote prefent nation, but he ftudies, in fom?: meafure, the antiquities
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168 jlfj Account of the European
of all nations j from which no mean lights may be thrown upon ms^ny parts of the an-* cient authors, both facred and profane. The learned Lafitau has laboured this point with great fuccefs, in a work which deffcrves to be read amongfl: us much more than I find
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The people of America are tall,, and ftrait in their limbs beyond the proportion of mod nations : their bodies are f:rong ; but of a fpe- cies of ftrength rather fitted to endure much hardfliip, than to continue long at any fervile work, by which they are quickly confumed; it is the flrength of a bcaft of prey, rather tjhan that of a beaft of burthen. Their bo- (dies and heads are f}attif)i> the eflfedt of art ; tb^ir feai;jres are regular^ })ut their counte- nances fierce j their hair long, black, lank, and as flrong as that of a horfc. No beards. The colour of their fkin a redi^ifli brown, admired an^ongft them, and improved by the fonftant i;fe of bears fat and paint. : : av
"^hcii the Europeans firft came into Ame- rica, they found the people quite naked, ex- cept thofe parts yvhich it is common for the moft uncultivated people to conceal. Since that time they have generally a coarfe blanket to cover them, which they buy from us. The whole faihion of their lives is of a piece ; hardy, poor, and fqualid j and their educa- fion fpm th^ir infancy is foiely dire(^ted to fit
» their
■ 1
Settlements in Ammrica. 169
their bodies for this mode of life, and to form their minds to inflidt and to endure the great- eft evils. Their only occupations are hunt- ing and war. Agriculture i: left to the wo- men. Merchandize they contemn. When their hunting feafon is paft, which they go through with much patience, and in which they exert great ingenuity, they pafs the reft of their time in an entire indolence. They lleep half the day in their huts, they loiter and jeft aniong their friends, and they ob- fervc no bounds or decency in their eating and drinking. Before we difcovered them they wanted fpirituous liquors; but now, the ac- quirement of thefe is what gives a fpur to their induftry, and enjoyment to their repofc. This is the principal end they purfue in their treaties with us ; and from this they fuffer in- fcxpreffiblc calamities ; for, having once be- gun to drink, they can prcferve no meafure, but continue a fucceflion of drunkenlii^rs as long as their means of procuring liquor lafts. In this condition they lie expofed on the earth to all the inclemency of the feafons, whFch waftes them by a train of the mofl: fatal dif- ordcrs ; they perifli in rivers and marflies ; they tumble into the fire ; they quarrel, and very frequendy murder each other ; and in /hort; excefs in drinking, which with us is rather immoral than very deft^fuclive, amongll: this uncivilized peoplq, who have not art ;:* \' enough
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170 -^//i Account of the Evropzan
enough to guard againft the confequence of their vices, is a public calamity. The few amongjft them who live free from this evil, enjoy the rcv^ard of their temperance in a ro- buft and healthy old age. The diforders which a complicated luxury has introduced, and fupports in Europe, are ftrangers here.
The charadter of the Indians is ftriking. They are grave even to fadnefs in their de- portment upon any ferious occafion ; obfer- vant of thofe in company 5 refpedtful to the old ; of a temper cool and deliberate ; by which they are never in hafte to fpeak before they have thought well upon the matter, and are fure the perfon who fpoke before them has finiflied all he had to fay. They have therefore the greateft contempt for the viva- city of the Europeans, who interrupt each other, and frequently fpeak all together. Nor thing is more edifying than their behaviour in their public councils and affemblies. Every man there is heard in his turn, according as his years, his wildom, or his fcrvices to his country have ranked him. Not a word, not a whifper, not a murmur is heard from the rcfl whilll he fpeaks. No indecent condem- nation, no ill-timed applaule. The younger fort attend for their inftrudion. Here they learn the hiflory of their nation ; here they are inflamed with the fongs of thofe who ce^ kbrate the warlike adions of their anceftors;
and
' / J fi ji
Settlements in America. 171
and here they arc taughtlwhat iaie the interefts of their country, and how to purfue them. 1. There is no people: aiaongft whom the laws of hofpjtality are more facred, or cxe^ cuted with more generofity and good- will. Their houfes, their provifion, even their young women are not enough to oblige a gucft. To thofe of tlieir own nation they are likewife very humane and beneficent. Has any one of them fuccceded ill in his hunt-^ ing? has his harvcft failed ? or is his houfe burned? He feels no other efFe(5t of his mif- fortune, than that it gives him an opportunity to experience the benevolence and regard of his fellow-citizens, who for that purppfe have all things almoft in common. But to the enemies of his country, or to thofe who have privately offended, the American is implaca- ble. He conceals his fentiments, he appears reconciled, until by fome treachery or furprizc he has an opportunity of executing an horri- ble revenge. No length of time is fufficient to allay his refcntment 5 no diftance of place great enough to protect the objedl ; he croffes the fleepeft mountains, he pierces the moft impradicable forefls, and traverfcs the mod hideous bogs and delarts for feveral hundreds of miles, bearing the inclemency of the fea- fons, the fatigue of the expedition, the ex- tremes of hunger and thirfl with patience and chearfulnefs, in hopes of furprizing his
enemy,
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172 An Account of the European
enemy, on whom he exercifcs the moft fhocking barbarities, even to the eating of his flefli. To fuch extremes do the Indians pufli their friend/hip or their enmity j and fucn in- deed in geiieral is the c'^aradter of all ftrong and uncultivated minds.
Notwithftanding his ferocity, no people have their anger, or at leaft the fhew of their anger, more under their command. From their infancy they are formed with care to endure feoffs, taunts, blows, and every fort of infult patiently, or at lead with a com- pofed cj^untenance. This is one of the, prin- cipal objedtsof their education. They efteem nothing fo unworthy a man of fenfe and con- ftancy, as a peeviih temper, and a pronenefs to a fudden and ra(h anger. And this fo far has an efFedt, that quarrels happen as rarely amongft them when they are not intoxicated with liquor, as does the chief caufe of all quarrels, hot and abufive language. But hu- man nature is fuch, that as virtues may with proper management be engrafted upon almoft all fort of vicious paflions, fo vices naturally grow out of the beft difpofitions, and are the confequence of thofe regulations that produce •and ftrengthen them. This is the reafon that when the paffions of the Americans are roufed, being (hut up, as it were, and con- ^Vv-^rging intO; a narrow point, they become
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Settlements in America. 173
more furious j they are dark, fuUen, treache- rous and unappeafable.
A people who live by hunting, who inha- bit mean cottages, and are given to change the place of their habitation, are feldom very religious. The Americans have fcarce any temples. We hear indeed of fome, and thofe extremely magnificent, amongfl the ancient Mexicans and Peruvians ; but the Mexicans and Peruvians were comparatively civilized nations. Thofe we know at prefent in any part of America are no way comparable to them. Some appear to have very little idea of God. Others entertain better notions; they hold the exiftence of a Supreme Being, eternal and incorruptible, who has power over dl. Satisfied with owning this, which is traditionary amongft them, they give him no fort of worfliip. There are indeed nations in America, who feem to pay fome religious homagis to the fun and moon; and as mofl: of them have a notion of fome invifible beings, w^ho continually intermeddle in their affairs, they difcourfe much of demons, nymphs, fairies, or beings equivalent. They have ceremonies too, that feem to (hew they had once a more regular form of religious worfliip ; for they make a fort of oblation of their firft fruits; obferve certain ceremonies at the full moon, and have in their feftivals many things that very probably came from a religious
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174 ^^ Account of the Ei^ropeam origin, though they perform them as things handed down to them from their anceftors, without knowing or enquiring about the reafon. Tho* without religion, they abbund in fupcrftitions ; as it is common for thofe to do, whofe fubfiflence depends like theirs, upon fortune. Great obfervers of ort^ens and dreams, and pryers into futurity with great eagernefs, they abound in diviners, augurs, and magicians, whom they rely much upon in all affairs that concern them, whether of health, war, or hunting. Their phylic, which may rather be called magic, is entirely in the hands of the priefts. The iick are naturally prone to fupefftition, and human help in fuch cafes is generally found fo weak, that it is no wonder that in all countries and ages, people have amufed themfelves in that difmal circumftance of human nature, with the hope of fupernatu- ral affiftance. ' • ' ' * '
Their phyficians generally treat them, in whatever diforder, in the fame way. That is, they firfl enclofe them in a narrow cabbin, in the midft of which is a ftonc red hot 5 on this they throw water until the patient is well foaked with the warm vapour, and his own fweat; then they hurry him fr >m the bagnio, and plunge him fuddenly into the next river. This is repeated as often as they judge necef- faryj and by this method, extraordinary cures
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SETTLEME^JTS in AMERICA. 1 75
are fometimes performed. But it frequently happens too, that this rude method kills the patient in the very operation, efpecially in the new diforders brought to them from Europe ; and it is partly owing to this manner of pro* ceeding, that thefmall pox has proved fo much more fatal to them than to us. It muft not be denied that they have the ufe of feme fpecifics of wonderful efficacy; the power of which they however attribute to the magical ceremonies with which they are conftantly adminiftved. And it is remarkable, that purely by an application of herblS they fre- quently cure wounds, that with us refufe to yield to the moil judicious methods.
CHAP. II.
.'i V
I'he government of the Americans, ^heir coun- cih, Their orators. Their feafts. Their manner of adminifiering jujlice,
LI B E R T Y in its fulleft extent is the darling paffion of the Americans. To this they facrifice every thing. This is what makes a life of uncertainty and want, fup- portable to them ; and their education is di- rected in fuch a manner as to cherilh this dif- pofition to the utmojft. They are indulged in all manner of liberty ; they arc never upon any account chaflifed with blows ; they are
rarely
176 ^« Account of tbe Eukopeah
rarely even chided. Reafon, they fay, wlH guide their chiidren when they come to the ufe of it; and before that time their faults cannot be very great 5 but blows might abate the free and martial fpirit which makes the glory of their people, and might render the fenfe of honour duller, by the habit of a fla- vifh motive to adtion. When they are grown up, they experience nothing like command, dependence, or fubordination ; even ftrong perfuafion is induftrioufly forborn by thofe who have influence amongft them, as what may look too like command, and appear a fort of violence oflTered to their will.
On the fame principle, they know no pu- nishment but death. They lay no fines, be- caafe they have no way of exading them from free men ; and the death, which they fometimes inflidt, is rather a confequence of a fort of war declared againfl a public enemy, than an adt of judicial power executed on a citizen or fubjedt. This free difpoiition is general ; and though fome tribes are found m America, with an head whom we call a king, his power is rather perfuafive than coercive, and he is reverenced as a father, mere than feared as a monarch. He has no guards, no
f)rifons, no officers of jufticc. The other brms, which may be confidered as a fort of ariftocracies, have no more power. This latter is the more common in North America.
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Settlements /;; America. 177
In fome tribes there are . a kind of nobility, who, when they come to years of difcreuon, are entitled to a place and vote in the councils of their nation ; the reft are excluded. But amongft the Five nations, or Iroquois, the moft celebrated commonwealth of North America, and in fome other nations, there is no other qualification abfoluttly neceflary for their head men, but age, with experience and ability in their affairs. However, there is ge- nerally in every tribe fome particular ftocks, which they refpedl, and who are confidered in fome fort as their chiefs, unlefs they (hew themfelves unworthy of that rank ; as among the tribes themfelves there are fome, who, on account of their number or bravery, have a pre-eminence over the reft j which, as it is not exadted with pride and infolence, nor maintained by tyranny on one hand, fo it is never difputed on the other when it is due.
Their great Cbuticil is'compofed of thefe heads of tribes and families, with fuch whofc capacity has elevated theiii^'tcl the fame degree of confiderationT Tljieymeetin a houfe, which they have in each of theif towns for the pur- pofe, upon 'every folemn occafidil, to receive ambafladors, td deliver thertx an anfwer, to fing their traditionary war fqrt*gs, or to corfi- memorate their dead. Thefe' councils are public. Here they propofe all fuch matters as concern the ftate, which hare alreiidy be'en
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digefted in the fecret councils, at which none but the head men affift. Here it is that their orators are employed, and difplay thofe ta« lents which diftinguifli them for eloquence and knowledge of public bufinefs j in both of which fome of them are admirable. None clfe fpeak in their public councils j thefe are their ambaffadors, and thefe are the commif- fioners who are appointed to treat of peace or alliance with other nations. The chief (kill of thefe orators coni^fts in giving an artful turn to affairs, and in exprefling their thoughts in a bold figurative manner, much ftronger than we could bear in this part of the world, and with geftur^s equally violent, but often extremely natural and expreffive.
When any bufinefs of confequence is tranf- adted, they appoint a f ^aft upon the occafion, of which almoft the whole nation partakes. There are leflTer feafts upon matters of lefs general concern, to which none are invited but they who are engaged in that particular bufinefs. At thefe feafts it is againft all rule to leave any thing ; fo that if they cannot confume all, what remains is thrown into the fire, for they look upon fire as a thing facred, and in all probability thefe feafts were an- ciently facrifices. Before the entertainment is ready, the principal perfon begins a fong, the fubjeft of which is the fabulous or real hiftory of their nation, the remarkable events -^ " * which
Settlements /;/ America. 179
which have happened, and whatever matters may make for their honour or inftrudlion. The others fing in their turn. They have dances too, with which they accompany their fongs, chiefly of a martial kind ; and no fo- lemnity or public bufinefs is carried on with- out fuch fongs and dances. Every thing is tranfa<5ted amongft thftm with much cere- mony 5 which in a barbarous people is necef- fary j for nothing elfe could hinder all their affairs from going to confufion ; besides that the ceremonies contribute to fix all tranfadlons the better in their memory.
To help their memory, they have bits of fmall mells or beads of different colours, which have all a different meaning, accord- ing ta their colour or arrangement. At the end of every matter they difcourfc upon, when they treat with a foreign flate, they de- liver one of thefe belts. If they (hould omit this ceremony, what they fay paffes for no- thing. Thefe belts are carefully treafured up in each town, and they ferve for the public records of the nation 5 and to thefe they oc- caiionally have recourfe, when any contefts happen between them and their neighbours. Of late, as the matter of which thefe belts is made is grown fcarce, they often give fome fkins in the place of the wampum, for fa they call thefe beads in their language, and receive in return prefcnts of a more valuable
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nature ; for neither will they confider what onr commiflioners fay to be of any weight, unlefs fome prefent accompanies each propofal.
The fame council of their elders, which regulates whatever regards the external poli- cy of the ftate, has the charge likewife of its internal peace and order. Their fuits arc few and quickly decided,, having neither property nor art enough to render them perplexed or tedious. Criminal matters come before the fame jurifdidtlon, when they are fo flagrant as to become a national concern. ' In ordinary cafes, the crime is either revenged or com- promifed by the parties concerned. If a mur- der is committed, the family which has loft a relation, prepares to retaliate on that of the offender. They often kill the murderer, and vvhen this happens, the kindred of the laft perfon fjain look upon themfelves to be as much injured, and think themfelves as mujh juftiiied in taking vengeance, as if the violence had not begun amongft themfelves. But in general things are determined in a more ami- cable manner. The offender abfents himfelf j his friends fend a compliment of condolance to thofe of the party murdered ; prefcnts are offered, which are rarely refufed; the head of the family appears, who in a formal fpeech delivers the prefents, which confifl: often of above iixty articles, every one of which is given to cancel fome part of the offence, and
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Settlements in America. i8i
to affuage the grief of the fuffering party. With the firft he fays, " By lais I remove the hatchet from the wound, and make it fall out of the hands of him who is prepared to revenge the injury ;** with the fecond, ** I dry up the blood of that wound ;" and fo on, in apt figures, taking away one by one all the ill confequences of the murder. As ufual, the whole ends in mutual feafting, fongs, and dances. If the murder is committed by one of the fame family, or cabbin, that "abbin has the full right of judgment, without ap- peal, within itfelf, either to punifli the guilty with death, or to pardon him, or to force him to give fome recompence to the wife or children of the flain. All this w^ile the fu- preme authority of the nation looks on un- concerned, and never roules its iVren^th, nor exerts the fulnefs of a power more revered than felt, but upon fome fignal occafion. Then the power feems equal to the occafion. Every one haftens to execute the orders of their fenate ; nor ever was any inftance of dif- loyalty or rebellion known amongft this peo- ple. Governed as they are by manners, not by laws, example, education, and the con- ftant practice of their ceremonies, gives them the moft tender affedion for their country, and infpires them with moft religious regard for their conftitution, and the cuftoms of th(?ir anceftors. The want of laws, and of
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182 j^n Account of the European an univerfal ftrong coercive power, is not per- ceived in a narrow fociety, where every man has his eye upon his neighbour, and where the whole bent of every thing they do is to flrengthen thofe natural ties by which fociety is principally cemented. Family love, rare amongft us, is a national virtue amongft them, of which all partake. Friend (hips there are amongft them, fit to vie with thofe of fabulous antiquity 5 and where fuch friend- ihips are feen to grow, the families concerned congratulate themfelves as upon an acquifi^ tion, that promifes to them a mutual ftrength, and to their nation the ereateft honour and advantage, . . , ,
CHAP. III.
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Their mournngs for their dead, 7'be feafi of fouls. The jimerican wotnen^ their occupam tions. Their marriages and divorces*^
TH E lofs of any one of their people,, whether by a natural death, or by war, is lamented by the whole town he belongs to *. In fuch circumftances no bufinefs is taken in hand, however important, nor any rejoicing permitted, however interefting the , v» ; ; oqcafion,
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* The towns are fmall, and except the affairs of war, or ftate» they have no bufinefs to employ them, for the greateft part of the year, after the hunting leafon is over.
Settlements in America. 183
occafion, until all the pious ceremonies due to the dead are performed. Thefe are always performed with the greateft folemnity. The dead body is wafhed, anointed, and painted, fo as in fome meafure to abate the horrors of death. Then the women lament the lofs with the moll bitter cries, and the moft hide- ous bowlings, intermixed with fongs, which celebrate the great anions of the deceafed, and thofe of his anceftors. The men mourn in a lefs extravagant manner. The whole village attends the body to the grave, which is interred, habited in their moft fumptuous ornaments. With the body of the deceafed are placed his bow and arrows, with what he valued moft in his life, and provifions for the long journey he is to take 5 for they hold the immortality of the foul univerfally, but their idea is grofs. Fcafting attends this, as it does every folemnity. After the funeral, they who are nearly allied to the deceafed, con- ceal themfelves in their huts for a confider- able time to indulge their grief. The com- pliments of condolance are never omitted, nor are prefents wanting upon this occafion. After fome time they revifit the grave 5 they renew their forrow ; they new cloath the re-« mains of the body, and a(^ over again the fo-r lemnities of the firft funeral.
Of all their inftances of regard to their de- ceafed friendi, none is fo ftriking as what
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184 Jin Account of the European
they call the fcaft of the dead, or the feaft of fouls. The day for this ceremony is appoint- ed in the council of their chiefs, who give orders for every thing, which may enable them to celebrate it with pomp and magni- ficence. The riches of the natio.i is exhaufted on this occafion, and all their ingenuity dif- played. The neighbouring people are invited to partake of the feaft, and to be witncfTes of the folemnity. At this time, all who have died fince the laft foiemn fcaft of that kind, are taken out of the r graves. Thofe who have been interred at the greateft diftance from the villages are diligently fought for, and brought to this great rendevous of car- caftes. It is not difficult to conceive the hor- ror of this general difinterment. I cannot paint it in a more lively manner than it is done by Lafitau. jun ia« ouk ," --^ ^ u .^,}. " Without queftion, fays he, the opening of thefe tombs difplay one of the moft ftrik- ing fcenes that can be conceived ; this hum- bling pourtrait of human mifery, in fo many images of death; wherein fhe feems to take a pleafure to paint herfclf in a thoufand va- rious (hapes of horror> in the feverai carcaf- fes, according to the degree in which corrup- tion has prevailed over them, or the manner in which it has attacked them. Some appear dry and withered ; others have a fort of parch- ment upon their bones -, fome look as if they
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Settlements tJi America. 185
were baked and fmoaked, without any ap- pearance of rottonnefs ; feme are juft turning towards the point of putrefadion j whilll others are all fwarming with worms, and drowned in corruption. I know not which ought to ftrike us mod, the horror of fo (hocking a fight, or the tender piety and af- fedion of thefe poc neople towards their de- parted friends ; for nothing deferves our ad- miration more, than that eager diligence and attention with which they difchnrge this me- lancholy duty of their tendernefs j gathering up carefully even the fmalleft bones ; hand- ling the carcafies, difguftful as they are, with every thing loathfome j cleanfing them from the worms, and carrying them upon their {boulders through tirefome journeys of feveral days, without being difcouraged by their in- fupportable ftench, and without fuffering any other emotions to arife, than thofe of regret, for having lort: per fens who were fo dear to them in their lives, and fo lamented in their
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This Grange feftival is the moft magnifi- cent and folemn which* they have ; not only on account of the great concourfe of natives and ftrangers, and of the pompous reinter- ment they give to their dead, whom they drefs in the fined ikins they can get, after having expofed them fome time in this pompj but for the games of all kinds which they ce- lebrate
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Icbrate upon the occafion, in the fpirit of thofe which the ancient Greeks and Romans cele« bratcd upon ifimilar occafions/'*^'^ ^^ --^1;,^.^ ;
In this manner do they endeavour to (both the calamities of life, by the honours they pay their dead ; honours, which are the more chearfully paid, becaufe in his turn each man cxpedts to receive them himfelf. Though amongft thefe favage nations this cuftom is impreifed with Pcrong marks of the ferocity of their nature, an honour for the dead, a ten« der feeling of their abfence, and a revival of their memory, are fome of the moft exceU lent inftrumcnts for fmoothing our rugged nature into humanity. In civilized nations fuch ceremonies are lefs pradifed, becaufe other inftruments for the fame purpofes are lefs wanted ; but it is certain a regard for the dead is ancient and univerfal. * '^^^ juih ..tv.
Though the women in America have gene- rally the laborious part of the oeconomy upon themfelves, yet they are far from being the flaves they appear, and are not at all fubjed: to the great fubordination in which they are placed in countries where they feem to be more refpedled. On the contrary, all the ho- nours of the nation are on the fide of the wo- They even hold their councils, and
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have their (liare in all deliberations which con- cern the ftate ; nor are they found inferior to the part they a(fl. Polygamy is pradifed by
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SETTtEMENTS in AMERICA. 187
fomc nations, but it is not general. In moft they content thpmfelves with onf5 wife,, but t divorce is admitted, and for the fame caufes that it was allowed amongft the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. No nation of the Americans is without a regular marriage, in which there are many ceremonies ; the principal of which is, the bride's prefenting the bridegroom with a plate of their corn.
Incontinent before wedlock, after marriage the chaftity of their women is remarkable. The puniftiment of the adulterefs, as well as that of tb^ adulterer, is in the hands of the bufband himfclf i and it is often fevere, as in- flifted by ope who is at once the party and the iudge. Their marriages are^not fruitful^ feldom producing above two or three chil- dren, but they are brought forth with lefs pain than our women fuffer upon fuch occa^ fions, and with little confcquent weaknefs. Probably, that fevere life which both fexes lead, is not favourable to procreation. And the habit unmarried women have of procuring abortions, in which they rarely fail, makes them the more unfit for bearing children af- terwards. This is one of the reafons of the depopulation of America ; for whatever loffes they fuffer, either by epidemical difeafes or \py war, are repaired llowly. , ;^! ir^ii v.
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i88 An Account of the European
A P.
TZtf Indian manner of preparing for war. The f fongs and dances, Their taking the field, ^ Their method of difcovering and attacking the i* enemy. Their cruel treatment of their pri^
.. finersofwar. J;, v^r^i^Tg^p .^ pj:,,2u;
LMOST tli'c fole bcc'upaddn of the American is war, or fuch an exercife as qualifies him for it. His whole glory confifts in this ; and no man is at all con- fidered until he has increafed the ilrength of his country with a captive, or adorned his houfe withithe fcalp of one of its enemies. When the Ancients rcfolvc upon war, they do not always declare what nation it is they arc determined to attack; that the enemy, upon whom they really int;;hd to fall, may be off his guard. Nay, they even fometimes let years pafs ovsr without committing any a<ft of hoflility, that the vigilance of all may be unbent by the long continuance of the watch, and the uncertainty of the danger. In the mean time they are not idle at home. The principal captain fummons the youth of the town to which he belongs j the war kettle is fet on the fire j the war fongs and dances commence j the hatchet is fent to all the vil- lages of the fame nation, and to all its allies ; . : . the
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Settlements in America. 189
the fire catches, the war fongs are heard in all parts, and the moft hideous bowlings con- tinue without intermiffion day and night oyer that whole tra<ft of country. The women add their cries to thofe of the men, lament- ing thofe whom they have either loft in war, or by a naturd death, and demanding their places to be fupplied from their enemies, fti- mulating the young men by a fenfe of fhame, which women know to excite in the ftrongeft manner, and can take the beft advantage of when excited. ^ ^ . , ., .^.>,^^.
When by thefe, and every other means^, the fury of the nation is raifcd to the greateft heigat, and all long to embrew their hands in blood, the war captain prepares the fea(l,; which coniifts of dogs flcfli. All that par- take of this feaft receive little billets, which are fo many engagements which they take to be faithful to each other, and obedient to their commander. None are forced to the war ; but when they have accepted this billet, they are looked upon as lifted, and it is then death to recede. All the warriors in this af- Tcmbly have their faces blackened with char- coal, intermixed with dafhes and ftreaks of Vermillion, which give them a moft horrid appearance. Their hair.is drcfled up in an odd manner, with feathers of various kinds. In this affembly, which is preparatory to their military expedition, the chief begins the war
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190 An Account of the Eitkopean
fong ; which having continued for fomc time, he raifes his voice to the highefl pitch, and turning off fuddenly to a fort of prayer, he addreflcs himfelf tr> the god of war, whom they caH Arefkoui. " I invoke thee, fays he, to be favourable to my enterprise ! I in- voke thy care upon me and my famfity ! I in- voke ye likewifc, all ye fpirits and demons good and evil ! AH ye that are in the fkics, or on the earth, or under the earth, to pour dcftrudion upon pur enemies, and to return me and my companions fafely to our country." All the warriors join him in this prayer with fhouts and acclamations. The captain renews his fong, flrikes his club againi): tl* e ^akes of his cottage, and begins the war dance, accom- panied with the fhouts of all his companions^ which continue as long as he dances.
The day appointed for their departure be- ing arrived, they take leave of their friends ; they change their cloaths, or whatever move- ables they have, in token of mutual fricnd- fhip ', their wives and female relations go out before them, and attend at fome diftance from the town. The warriors march out all dreft in their fineft apparel, and moft (howy orna- ments, regularly one after another, for they never march in rank. The chief walks flow- ly on before them, finging the death fong, whilft the reft obferve the moft profound fi- Hcnce. When they come up to their women, .f^^^v.; ' ;hey
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Settlements in America. 191
they deliver up to them all their finery, put on their worft cloatbs, and then proceed as their commander thinks fit. '^< ^ -> ( - /
Their motives for engaging In a war are rarely thofe views which excite u:s to it. They have no other end but the glory of the vidtory^ or the benefit of the flaves which it enables them to add to their nation, or facrificc ta their brutal fury ; and it is rare that they take any pains to give their wars even a colour of juftice. It is no way uncommon among them for the young men to make feafts of dogs flefh> and dances, in fmall parties, in the midfl of the moft profound peace. They fall fometimes o'l one nation, fometimes on an^ other, and furprize fome of their hunters, whom they fcalp or bring home as prifoners. Their fenators wink at this, or rather encou« rage it, as it tends to keep up the martial fpi- rit of their people, inures them to watchfuU nefs and hardOiip, and gives them an early tafte for blood.
The qualities in an Indian war are vigi- lance and attention, to give and to avoid a furprize ; and patience and ftrength, to en- dure the intolerable fatigues and hardfhips which alv ays attend it. The nations of Ame- rica are at an immenfe didance from each other with a vaft defart frontier, and hid in the boforn of hideous, and almpft boundlefs forefts. Thefe muft be traverfcd before they.
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192 ^//Account of the Europeah meet an enemy, who is often at fuch a di- ftance as might be fuppo^ed to prevent either quarrel or danger. But not witnftan ding the fecrecy of the deftination of the party that firft moves, the enemy has frequent notice of it, is prepared for the attack, and ready to take advantage in the fame manner of the leaft want of vigilance in the aggrciTors. Their whole art of war coniifls in this : they never fight in the open field, but upon fome very extraordinary occafions ; not from cowardice, for they are brave 5 but they defpife this mc- tliod, as unworthy an able warrior, and as an affair in which fortune governs more than prudence. The principal things which help theih to find out their enemies are the fmoke of their fires, which they fmell at a diftance almod incredible ; and their tracks, in the difcovery and diftinguifhing of which they are poiTeiTed of a fagacity equally aftoniftiing j for they will tell in the footfteps, which to us would feem moil confufed, the number of men that have paiTed, and the length of time lince they have paffed ; they even go fo far as to diflinguifh the feveral nations by the dif- ferent marks of iheir feet, and to perceive footfteps, where we could diftinguifh no- thing lefs. A mind diligently intent upon one thing, and exercifed by long experience, will go lengths at firft view fcarcely credible. ,:ijg^- -j-rvi^rt^^ 4-3wb^ru^ :^':r:kut^w^''.^^- :^0^- But
Settlements in America^ 19J
^ But as they who are attacked have tlid fame knowledge, and know how to draw the fame advantages from it, their great addrefs is to baffle each other m thefe points. On the expedition they light no fire to waim them- felves, or prepare their vidtuals, hut fubfifl merely on the miferable pittance of fomc of their meal mixed with water ; they lie clofe to the ground all day, and march only in thd pight. As they march in their ufual order in files, he that clofes the rear diligently co- vers his own tracks, and thofe of all whc preceded him, with leaves. If any ftream occurs in their route, they march in it for a confiderable w^y to foil their purfuers. Whem they halt to reft and refirefli themfelves, fcouts are fent out on every fide to' reconnoitre the i:ountry, and beat up every place where they fufpedt an enetpy may lie perdue; In this inanner they often enter a village, whilft xht ftrength of the nation is employed in hunt- ing, and mafiacre all the helplefs old vcith^ women, and children,' or make prifoners as riiariy ais they Judge they can manage, or have ftrength enough to be ufeful to their nation.
They often cut off fmall parties of mien in their huntings; but when they difcover an army of their enerhies, their way is to throw tliemfelves flat on their faces amongft the withered leaves, the colour of which their todies are painted to refemblc exadtly. They
Vol. I. O gene-
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194 JfH Accovut 0f the European
generally let a part pafs unmolefted, and then. rifing a little, they take aim, for they are cx« tt llcrtt markfmen, and fetting up a moft tre* intndt)us (hout, which they call the war cry, ihcy pour a ftorm of mufquet-bullets upon the enemy -, for they have long fince laid afide the ufe of arrows j the party attacked returns the fame cry. Every man in hade covers himfelf with a tree, and returns the fire of the adverfe party ; as foon as they raife them- felves from the ground to give the fecond fire. After fighting fome time in this manner, the party which thinks it has the advantage tufhes out of its cover, with fmall axes in their hands, which they dart with great ad* ^iiefs afnd dexterity ; they redouble their cries, intimidatrng their enemies with mtnaces, and Encouraging each other with a boaftful dif- Jylaydf. their own brave anions. Thus being comfe hietnd to hand, the conteft is foon de- cided ; and the conquerors fatiate their favage fiiiy with the iwoft mocking infults and bar- trarttics to the dead, biting their flefh, tear- ing the fc&lp from their heads, and wallow- ing in their blood like wild beads, , ,, . The fate of their prifoners is the moft fe- vere of aH. During the greateft part of their jdbrney homewards they fuffer no injury. But when they arrive at the territories of th^ conqUfcfihg ftiaite, or at thofc of their allies, tht J)eoj^lfc from every village meet them, and
think
8EttLEMENTS /// AMERICA. 19^
fkink they (hew their attachment to their friends by their barbarous treatment of the unhappy prifoners ; fb that when they come to their ftation, they are wounded and bruif- ed in a terrible manner. The conquerors en- ter the town in triumph. The war captain Waits upon the head men, and in a low voice gives them a clrcumftantial account of every particular of the expedition, of the damage the enemy has fufFered, and his own lofles in it. This done, 'he public orator relates the whole to the people. Before they yield to the joy which the vidtory occaiions, they lament the friends which they have loft in the purfuit of it. The parties moft nearly concerned are afilidted apparently with a deep and real for- TOWi But by one of thofe ftrange turns of the human mind, fafliioned to any thing by cuftom, as if they were difciplined in their grief, upon the lignal for rejoicing, in a mo- ment all teafs are wiped from their eyes, and they rufli into an extravagance and phrenzy of joy for their vidtory.
In the mean time the fate of the prifonera remains undecided, until the old mtn meet, and determine concerning the diftribution. It is ufual to offer a flave to each houfe that has loft a friend ^ giving the preference according to the greatnefs of the lofs. The perfon who has taken the captive attends him to the door of the cottage to which he is delivered, and
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196 An Account of the Europeak \Vith him gives a belt ot wampum, to fheVV that he has fulfilled the purpofe of the expe- dition in fupplyiPg the lofs of a citizen. They view the prefent whicllt is made them for fome time, and according as they think him or her, for it is the fame, prdper or improper for the bufinefs of the family, or is they take a capricious liking or difpleafure to the coun- tenance of the vidlim, or in proportion to their natural barbarity, or their refentment for their loffcs, they deftine concerning him, to receive him into the family, or fcntence him to death. If the latter, they throw away the belt with indignation. Then it is no longer in the power of any one to favcf him. The nation is afTembled as upon fome great folem- nity. A fcaffold is raifed, and the prifoner tied to the flake. Infiantly he opens his death fong, and prepares for tne enfuing fcene of cruelty with the moft undaunted courage. On the other fide, they prepare to put it to the utiiioft proof, vvith every torment, which the mind of man ingenious in mifchief can in- vent. They begin at the extremities of his body, and gradually approach the trunk. One plucks out his nails by the roots, one by one ^ another takes a finger into his mouth, anid tears off the flefh with his teetk ; a third thruAs the finger, mangled as it is, into the bole of a pipe made red hot, which he fmoaks like tobacco. Then they poynd his
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Settlements in America, 197
toes and fingers to pieces between two flones 5 they cut circles about his joints, and gafhes in the flefhy parts of his limbs, which they fear immediately with red-hot irons, cutting and fearing alternately j they pull off this flefh, thus mangled and roafted, bit by bit, de- vouring it with greedinefs, and fmearing their faces with the blood, in an enthufiafm of hor- ror and fury. When they have thus torn off the flefli, they twift the bare nerves and ten- ders about an iron, tearing and fnappii^g them ; whilft others are employed in pulling a^id ex- tending the limbs themfeives, in every way that can increafe the torment. This conti- nues often five or fix hours together. Then they frequently unbind him to give a breath- ing to their fury, to think what new torments they fliall inflidt, and to refrefh the ftrength of the fufferer, who wearied out with fuch a variety of unheard-of torments, often falls immediately into fo profound a fleep, that they are obliged to apply the fire to awaken him, and renew his fufferings.
He is again faflened to the flake, and again they renew their cruelty ; they flick him all over with fmall matches of a wood that eafily takes fire, but burns flowly j they continu- ally run fharp reeds into every part of his body ; they drag out his teeth with pincers, and thrufl out his eyes ; and laftly, after hav- ing burned his Re(ti from the bpnes with flow
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fires 5 after having fo mangled the body th^ is all but one wound ; after having mutilated Jiis face in fuch a mannpr as to carry nothing of human in it ; after having peeled the ikiif from the head, and poured a heap of red- hot coals, or boiling water on the naked ikull; they once more unbind the wretch, who blind and daggering with pain and weaknefs, aflaulted and pelted upon every fide with dubs and flones, now up, now down, fall- ing into their fires at every ftep, runs hither and thither, until fome of the chifefs, whe- ther out of compaflion, or weary of cruelty, puts an end to his life with a club or a dag- ger. The body is then put into the kettle, and this barbarous employment is fucceeded
by a feail as barbarous. * - * '-^ ' -
The women, forgetting the human as well as the female nature, and transformed intp fomething worfe than furies, adt their parts, tand even outdo the men in this fcetie of hor- ror. The principal perfons of tfbe country iit round the ftake fmoaking and looking on iwithout the leafi: emotion. What is moft ex- traordinary, the fufFerer himfelf, in the little intervals of his torments, fmoaks too, appearg tmconcerncd, and converfes with his tortur- ers about indifferent matters. Indeed, during the whole time of his execution, there feems a conteft between hijn and them which ihall ifxpeed, they in inflid?ing the moft horrid
Si
SETTtEMEKTs /« America. 199
oains, or he in enduring them with » firtp- ncft and conftancy almoft above human. Not a gro^n, not a figh, not a diftortion of coun- tenance efcapes him ; he poflefTes his mind entirely in the midft of his torments ; he re- counts his own exploits, he informs thenx what cruelties he has inflidted upon their countrymen, and threatens them with the revenge that will attend his death ; and tho* |iis reproaches exafperate them to a perfedk madnefs of rage and fury, he continues his reproaches even of their ignorance in the art of tormenting, pointing out himfelf more ex- quifite methods, and more fenfible parts of the body to be afflicted. The women have ^bis p;irt of courage as well as the men ^ and it is as rare for any Indian to behave other- >vife, as it would be for an European to fuffer as an Indian. ;, .^ -v • . i ,
. I do not dwell upon thefe circumftances of cruelty, which fo degrade human nature, out of choice ; but as all who mention the cu-^ ftoms pf this people have infifted upon their behaviour in this refpcdt very particularly, and as it feems neceffary to give a true idea of their character, I did not chufe to omit it. It ferves to fliew too, in the ftrongeft light, to what an inconceiveable degree of barbarity the paffions of men let loofe will carry them. It will point out to us the ad- yaQta|;es of a religion that teaches a gompaf- ^ . O 4 " fion
T^f^r
too An Account of the EuROP^Aft
(ion to our enemies, which is neither known nor pradifed in other religions ; and it will make us more feniible than Tome appear to be, of the value of cgmmprce, the arts of a civilized life, and the lights of literatu^-e \ which, if they have abated the force bf ibmc pi th? natural virtues by the luxury which littends them, have taken out likewife the fting of our natural vices, and foftencd the ferocity of the human race without enervat- ing their courage. v r ^ ^ ^ : , i ; ^7
On the other hand, the conftancy of the fufferers in this terrible fccne (hews the won- derful power of an early inflitution, and a fe- jrocious third of glory, which makes men imitate and e^fceed what philofophy, or even religion can eflfe£t.
The prifoners who have the happinefs to pleafe tbofe to whom they arc offered, have a fortune altogether oppofite to that of thofe who arc condemned. They are adopted into the family, they are accepted in the placp pf the father, fbn, or hufband that is ibfl ; and they have no other mark of their capti- vity, but tliat they are not fuffered to return to their owo nation. To attempt this would )e certain death. The principal purpofe of the war is to recruit in this manner \ fo^ which reafon a general ^ho lofes manv of his men, though he fhould conquer, is little better than difgraced ^t home 5 becaufe the 4"'( ' ' ^ ' ■ ' "^ end
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Settlements in Ameri,ca, aori
end of the war was not anfwercd. They arc thcrfcfore extremely careful of their men, and never diufe to attack but with a very undoubted fuperiority, either in number or fituation•"^ i*^ ''■^^' :'■ "i "' •'"- • .-i-- -^i*^^<t<>>i
The fealps which they value (6 much are the trophies of their bravery j v^rith Ael^ they adorn their houfes, which arc eAeemed in proportion as this fori of fpoils is more nu-* perous. They have folemn days appointed, upon which the ypung men gain a new name or title of honour froin their head men ; and thefe titles are given according to the quali- ties of the perfon, and his performances ; of which thefe fealps are the evidence. This i$ all the reward they receive for the dangers of the war, and the fatigues of manv cam- paigns, fevere almoft beyond credit. They think it abundantly fufficient to have a name given by their governors j men of merit them- felves, and juf'ges of it ; a name refpedled by their countrymen, and terrible to their ene- mies. There are many other things fit to (engage the curiofity, and even afford matter of inflrujSlive refledlion, in the manners of this barbarous people 5 but thefe feem to be the mod ftriking, and fitteft to be infifted pn in a work which is to give a general idea of America. The prefent fettlements, their commerce and produdtions, ought to be al- lowed thpir proper roon^. In which I pro-
pofc
20Z ;i^ Account of tie EvKoHAi^ pofe to treat, firft of the Spanifli colonies, as the iirft difcovered and largeft object, and that in which the reft of Europe> though cx^ eluded, is the moft concerned. The Portu-^ guefe, as neareft in place and rank, iball b^ fecond. The French fhall next be confi- dered. The Engliih {hall be reserved to th^ h&i 4S the moft important to onjrfelvcs, ^^^
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A general defcriftkn of America.
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HAVING ddfcribcd with as much con^ cifenefs 2d the falbjedl would bear, the manners of the origind inhabitants of Ame- tica, as we had before that related the moil Remarkable adventures of its diii;x)verers and ^conquerors ; it will he neceiTary to view more minutely, what and bow advantageoujj ^ country tbefe conquells and difcoveries have ;added to the world j and what arc the views, interefts, and characters of thofe, who at prcfcnt poSefs the grcatcft part of th^ cx- tenfivc regron.
America extends from the North Pole to ^he Sfty-fevcnth degree of South latitude ; it
204 -^^ Account of the European Is upwards of eight thoufand miles in length \ it fees both hemifpheres % it has two fummer^ and a double winter ; it enjoys all the varie^ of climates which the earth affords ; it is waflied by the two greateft oceans. To the Eaftward it has the Atlantic ocean, which divides it from Europe and Africa. To the Weft it has another ocean, the great South- Sea, by which it is disjoined from Afia, By thefe feas it may, and does carry on a direct commerce with the other three parts of the world. It is compofed of two vaft continents, one on the North, the other upon the South, which are joined by the great kingdom of Mexico, which forms a fort of iftljmus fifr teen hundred miles long, and in one part, at Darien, fo extremely narrow, as to make the communication between the two oceans by no means difficult. In the great gulph, which is formed between this ifthmus and the North- ern and Southern continents, lie an infinite jnultitude of iHands, many of them large, moft of them fertile, and capable of being cultivated to very great advantage.
America in general is not a mountainous country, yet it has the greateft mountains in the world. The Andes, or Cordilleras, run from North to South along the coaft of the Pacific ocean. Though for the moft part within the torrid zone, they are perpetually ipoyered with fnow, an4 jn their bowpls con- tain
1»;i
Settlements in America, zo?
tain inexhauftible treafures. In the province 6f St. Martha in South Atnerica are likewife very great mountains, v^rhich comnaunicate with the former. In North America we know of none confiderable, but that long ridge which lies to the back of our fettle* ments, which we call the Apalachian, or Al- legeney mountains ; if that may be at all con- fiqered as a mountain, which upon one fide indeed has a very great declivity, but upon the other is nearly on a level with the reft of the country. ' ,
Without comparifon, America is that part of the world which is the beft watered ; and that not only for the fupport of life, but for the convenience of trade, and the intercourfe of each part with the others. In North America the great river Miflilippi riling from unknown fources, runs an immenfe courfe from North to South, and receives the vaft tribute of the Ohio, the Ouabache, and other immenfe rivers, fcarcely to be poftponed to the Rhine or the Danube, navigable almoft to their very fources, and laying open the in- moft receifes of this continent. Near the heads of thefe are five great lakes, or rather feas of frefh water communicating with each other, and all communicating with the ocean by the river St. Laurence, which paffes through them. Thefe afford fuch an inlet for com- merce ^as muft produce the greateft advan- ' ■ ■ ^^ ■ '-' ' ■-■^ tages.
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tages, whenever the country adjacent (haW come to be fully inhabited, and by an in^ duftrious and civili5:ed people. The Eafkrn fide of North America, which is our portion ^ belides the noble rivers Hudfon, Delaware, Sufquehanna, Patowmack, fupplies feveral others of great depth, length, and commo- dious navigation. Many parts of our fettle- ments are fo interfedted with navigable rivers and creeks, that the planters may be faid, without exaggeration, to have each a harbour at his own door.
South America is, if poffible, in this re* fped:, even more fortunate. It fupplies much the two largeft rivers in the worid, the river of Amazons, and the Rio de la Plata. The firft rifing in Peru, not far from the South- Sea, paffes from Weft to Eaft, almoft quite through the continent of South America, na- vigable for fon:ie fort or other of veflels all the way, and receiving into its bofom a prodigi-- ous number of rivers, all navigable in the fame manner, and fo great, that Monfieur Condamine found it often almofl impoffible to determine which was the main channel. The Rio de la Plata rifing in the heart of the country, fhapes its courfe to the South- Eaft, and pours fuch an immenfe flood into the fea, that it makes it tafte frefh a great many leagues from the (hore j to fay nothing of the Oronoquo, which might rank the foremoft
amongfl
Settlements in America^ 207
amongft any but the American rivers. The foil and produds in fuch a variety of climates, cannot (atisfadlorily be treated of in a general defcription ; we jfhall in their places coniider them particularly.
All America is in the hands of four na- tions. The Spaniarcjs, who, as they firft dif- covered it, have the largeft and richefl ihare. All that part of North Americ , which com- pofes the ifthmus of Mexico, and what lies beyond that towards the river Miffifippi on the Eaft, the Pacific ocean to the Weft and North- Weft 5 and they pofTefs all South Ame- rica, excepting Brafil, which lies between the mouth of the river of Amazons and that of Plata along the Atlantic ocean 5 this be- longs to Portugal. That part of North Ame- rica which the Spaniards have not, is divided between the Englifli and French. The En- glifti have all the countries which incircle Hudfon's Bay, and thence in a line all along the Eaftern ftiore to the thirtieth degree of North latitude. France claims the country which lies between this and the Spanifti fet- tlements to the Weft, and fecures an intcr- courfe with them by the mouths of the Mif- fifippi, the Mobile, and of the river St. Lau- rence, which are the only avenues of navi^ gation to this very extenfive country. The multitude of iflands which lie between the two continents, arp divided amongft the Spa- niards,
11
2o8 An Account of the EuRoPEiSN
niards, French, and Englifli. The Dutch poiTefs three or four fmall iflands, which, in any other handsy would be of no confequence. The Danes have one or two, but they hardly deferve to be hained amongft the proprietors of America. ',. ,
', : , G H A P. it
^ht climate and foil of New Spain. Animals* ' Its vegetable produce^
THE order which I intend to obferve in treating of the Spanifli colonies is, after having fet forth their fituation, their cli- mate, and t&e nature of their foil, todefcribe thofc conimodities in which they trade j to give a clear and cohcife account of their me- thod of manufa(fluring them y and then to lay open the manner of their deling in them, as well as that by which they carry on their foreign commerce. Lafi of all I (hall fay fomething of the genius and temper of the itihabitants ; of fuch cuftoms of theirs as are remarkable, and of their civil policy, and of their military, fo far as they arc come to my knowledge, or as they are worthy the atten- tion of the reader. The exaft divifion of the provinces, the courfes of the rivers, the di- llances of places, the dimenfions of harbours and their foundings j all thefe, as they are in- t finitrfy
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Settlements /« America. 209 finitely better known from maps and charts, fo it would be impertinent and tedious to fill up this fliort work with them, which pro- pofes to give, even fliort as it is, a defcription of every thing that may tend to a juft notion of America ; and therefore cannot facrifice matters of more moment to the defcription of things, of which a far better idea may be acquired by other means to thofe whom they concern j and to thofe whom they do not in- tereft, who are by far the majority, muft be tedious and uninftrudtive.
The firft country which the Spaniards fet- tled upon the continent of America was Mexico ; and it ft'll continues their principal Settlement, whether we confider its number of inhabitants, its natural wealth, or its ex- tended traffic. As it lies for the moft part within the torrid zone, it is exceffively hot ; and on the Eaftern coaft, where the land is low, marfliy, and conftantly flooded in the rainy {eafons, it is like wife extremely un- wholfome; neither is that coaft pleafant in any refped: ; incumber'd for the moft part with almoft impenetrable woods of man- grove trees, of a bare and difagreeable afpedt, and which extend into the water for a con- llderable way. The inland country aflumes a mpre agreeable afped:, and the air is of a better temperament ; here the tropical fruits grow in great abundance j the land is of a
Vol. I. P good
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210 An Account of the European
good variety, and would not refufe any fort of grain, if the number or induftry of the in- habitants were any way proportioned to the goodnefs of the foil. But on the Weftern fide the land is not fo low as on the Eaftern, much better in quality, and full of plantations. It is probable the Spaniards chufe to leave the Eaftern coaft In its prefent ftate of rudc- nefs and defolation, judging that a rugged and unwholfome frontier is a better defence againft an European enemy, than fortifications and armies, to be maintained at a vaft expence ; or than the Arength of the inhabitants, made by the climate effeminate and pufillanimous, and kept fo by policy : and indeed it would be next to impoffible to make any confider- able eflabliihment on that coaft, that could cffedtually anfwer the purpofes of any power in Europe, without ftruggfing with the great- eft difficulties ; and as for a fudden invafion, the nature of the country itfelf is a good for- tification. In general, few countries under the fame afped: of the heavens, enjoy more of the benefits of nature, and the neceffaries of life ; but, like all the tropical countries, it rather is more abundant in fruits than in grain. Pine apples, pomegranates, oranges^ lemons, citrons, figs, and cocoa nuts, are here in the greateft plenty and perfection. Vines and apples require temperate climateSr
- The
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Settlemknts in America. 2it
The number of iheir horned cattle Is in a manner infinite ; fome private perfons are faid to have pofle^ed for^ thoufand head ; many are wild, and a very coniiderable trade is driven in their hides and tallow, but the ex- treme heat prevents their turning the fle(h to any account in commerce. Swine are equally numerous, and their lard is much in requeil all over this country, where it is ufcd inftead of butter. Sheep are numerous in Mexico, but I do not find that wool is an article of any great confideration in their trade ; nor is it probable that it is of a good kind, as it is fcarce ever found ufeful between the tropics, where it is hairy and fhort, except only in Peru 5 and that is the produce . of fheep of a fpecies very different from that in the reft of America ; as Peru is itfelf remarkably diffe- rent in climate from all other countries under the torrid zone. But cotton is here very good, and in great plenty. It is manufadtured large- ly, for as it is a light wear, fuitable to the cli- mate, and all other cloathing being extrava- gandy dear, it is the general wear of the in* habitants ; the woollens and linens of Europe being rather luxuries, and worn only by per- fons of fome condition. Some provinces pro- duce filk, but not in that abundance or pcr- fedlion to make a remarkable part of their export ; not but that the country is very fit for that, and many other things valuable, which
P 2 arc
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212 An Account of the European
are but little cultivated ; for the gold and fil- ver, which makes the glory of this country, and in the abundant trcafures of which it ex- ceeds all the world, engages iilmoil the whole attention of the inhabitants, as it is almoft the only thing for which the Spaniards value their colonies, and what alone receives the encourJigement of the court 5 therefore I fhall iniift moil largely upon thefe articles. After that I (hall fpeak of thofe commodities, which are produced here of moft importance in fo- reign commerce, and reft upon them in pro- portioa to their importance. Thefe are cochi- neal, indigo, and cacao, of which chocolate is made. As for fugar and tobacco, and in- digo, though no part of the world produces better than Mexico j and as for logwood, though it be in a' manner peculiar to this country ; yet as the firft is largely raifed and manufactured elfewhere, and as our. own commerce in the two laft is what chiefly in- tcrefts an Englifli reader, I fliall referve them to be treated of ^.^ the divifion I allot to the Englifli colonies.
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! ■.
CHAP.
Settlements in America. 213
CHAP. III.
7he gold and filver mines, ne manner of pu^ rtfying tbofe metals. Some thoughts on the generation of metals. Of the quantity ofthofe metals produced in the Spanijh Weft-Indies.
IT is not known with certainty, whether all, or fome provinces only of New Spain, produce mines of gold and filver. It is, how- e»er, allowed that the chief mines of gold are in Veragua and New Granada, confining upon Darien and Terra Firma. Thofe of filver, which are much more rich as well as numerous, are found in feveral parts, but in none fo much as in the province of Mexico. But all the mines, whether of gold or filver, are generally found in the mountainous and barren pjirts ; nature often making amends one way for her failures in another.
Gold is found either in the fand of rivers, native, and in fmall grains, or it is dug out of the earth in the fame condition in fmall bits, almoft wholly metallic, and of a tolerable purity; or it is found like the ore of other metals in an aggregate opaque mafs, in a mixture of earth, ftone fulphur, and other metals. In this ftate it is of all colours, red, white, blackifh, and making little or no oftentation of the riches it contains. Some-
P 3 timQS
214 -^^ Account of the Europipan times it forms part of the ornament of fomc beautiful ftones, which are of various lively colours, interfered with filan[ients of this metal, quite nat'>;c. Lapis lazuli is one of thefe, which has always fome fm^U portions of gold; but this golden ftrcaking is often extremely fallacious, and has betrayed many into ruinous expences ; for in iev^ral ftones thefe fine veins have been nothing more than marcafite : however, fuch marcafites or firc- ilones are found in mines, which conts^in real gold. But gold, ho\yfoev^r foun^, whether native, or in what is called the ore, is feldom or never without a mixture of other pietals, generally filver or copper.
The gold mines, though they contain the rlcheft of all metals, it is remarkable moil frequently difappoint the hopes, and ruin the fortunes of thofe who engage in them \ the' neither the labouring of the mine, nor the purifying the metal, is attended with fuch an expence as what thofe are obliged to, who "Vvork mines of the inferior metals. For the vein is, of all others, the moft unequal ; iometimes very large, full, and rich j then it often decays by a quick gradation, and is fometimes fuddenly loft. But the ends of th? veins are. on the other hand, often extremely rich J they arc called the purfe of the vein 5 and when the miner is fo happy as to light
:^£L . -> ■■■ : ■ ,■ . ••'ip
Settlements /« America.' 215
Oft one of thefe purfes, his fortune is made immediately. ;
When the ore is dug out, the moft ufual method is to break it to pieces in a mill, ex- a^ly refembling thofe large ones we ufe for grinding apples, wherein a mill-ftone fet on end is made to turn in a circular channel of ftone. When the ore is thus broke, and the gold fomewhat feparated from the impure mafs, they add to the whole a quantity of quickfilver. Quickfilver has, of all other bo- dies, the greateft attradion with gold, which therefore immediately breaks the links which held it to the former earth, and clings clofe to this congenial fubftance. Then a rapid ftream of water is let into the channel, which fcouring away (through a hole made for the purpofe) the lighter earth, by the brifknefs of Its current, leaves the gold and mercury pre- cipitated by its weight at the bottom. This amalgama, or pafte, is put into a linen cloth, and fqueezed fo as to make the quickfilver feparate and run out. To compleat this repa- ration, it is neceflary to fufe tne metal, and then all the mercury flies off in fumes.
But in many parts of Spanifli America, ano- ther way of getting and purifying gold is pradtifed. When by fure tokens they know that gold lies in the bed of a rivulet, they turn the current into the inward angles, which time and the ftream have formed ^j whilft this
P 4 runs.
2i6 An Account of the European
runs, they dig and turn up the earth to make it the more eafily diffolved and carried ofF, When the furface is thus compleatly wafhed away, and they are come to a fort of ftifF earth, which is the receptacle of gold, they return the ftream into its former channel, and dig up the earth as they find it, which they carry to a little bafon fomewhat in the form of a fmith's bellows. Into this they turn a fmall but lively ftream to carry off the foreign matter, whilft they facilitate the ope- r?tion by ftirring the mafs with an iron hook, which diflblves the earth, and gathers up the ilones, which are carefully thrown out that they may not interrupt the paffages that carry off the earth. By this means the gold loof- ened from the grofs matter, which adhered to it, falls to the bottom, but mixed fo inti- mately with a black heavy fand, that none of the gold can be perceived, unlefs it happens to be a pretty large grain. To feparate it from this fand, it is put into a fort of wooden platter, with a little hollow of about the depth of half an inch at bottom. This platter they fill with water, and turning the mafs about brifkly with their hands for fome time, the fand pafTes over the edges, and leaves the gold in fmall grains, pure, and of its genuine co- lour, in the hollow at the bottom. Thus is gold refined without fire or mercury, merely by wafting. The places where this is per- formed
Settlements/;; America.' 2"*/ formed arc called therefore Lavaderos by the Spaniards. There are many more method? of extradting and purifying this precious me- tal > but thefe ar^ the moft common ways ufftd by Spaniards in their Indies.
Silver is the metal next in rank, but firft in confequence in th<5 Spanifli traffic, as their mines yield a much greater quantity of the latter than of the former. It is found in the earth under different forms, as indeed the ore of all metals is* Such is the diverfity of ores in this refpedt, that nothing but a long ex- perience in this particular branch can oxadtly afcertain the fpecies of the metsti, which al- moft any ore contains at firft view. I have feen fpecimens wherein the filver, almoft pure, twined itfelf about a white flone, penetrating into the interftices in the fame manner that the roots of trees enter into the rocks, and twift themfelves about them. Some are of an a(h-coloured appearance, others fpotted of a red and blue, fome of changeable colours, and many almoft black, affeding fomewhat of a pointed regular form like cryftals. I cannot find that it is ever found in grains or fand, native, as gold is. -^^ *» ' -^ ^ ' -
The manner of refining filver does not dif- fer eflTentially from the procefs which is em- ployed for gold. They are both purified up- on the fame principle ; by clearing away as much of the earth as can be, with water ; by
uniting,
a |8 An Account ef the European
uniting, or amalgamating it with mercaryi and afterwards by clearing off the mercury it- felfy by draining and evaporation. But the management of filver in this refp^di is much more difficult than that of gold ; becaufe this metal is much more intimately united with the foreign matters with which it is found in the mine \ and its attrad^ion with mercury is much weaker $ therefore there is great care taken in the amalgamation, and it is a long time before they are perfeftly mixed. A quantity of fea-falt is likewife added. No filver is had by mere wafhing.
The chymifts have talked very freely of the produdtion of thefe and other metals in the earth ; of the fait, fulphur, and mercury that compofe them, and the manner in which thefe fubftances are united and changed fo as to form metals and minerals of every fpecies, Some have recourfe to the fun as the great agent in fhis procefs, efpecially in gold and filver, as the moft worthy fuch an operator. Others call in the aid of fubterraneous fires and central heat. But in reality they have ad- vanced very little that is fatisfadtoty upon this fubjedt. They have never by any method of joining the matters, which they have affigned as the conftituent parts of metals, in any proportions whatfoever ; nor by any degrees of their great agent fire, been able to make metal of that which was not metal before.
Neither
■ IWiL.ll H|IUPIII|11ll.
•W^
It- he bch
Settlements in America. 219
Neither have they found what they allot as the component parts of all metals in fuch a manner in all, as to enable them to £x any common principle for their generation. Some they cannot aualyfe by any art, as gold j they indeed define it a compofition of a very fub- file mercury, and a fulphur as fubtile.
But how this comes to be known, when np procefs hitherto difcovered, has been able to extradt either of thefe from gold, they who have advanced fuch things ought to tell. It is reafonable to believe, that there is fome plaftic principle in nature, perhaps fomething analogous to the feminal principle in plants and animals, whatever that is, which does not, as we know, refcmble any known body, nor is compofed of any com- bination of known bodies ; but powerful of itfelf to combine and vary fuch a part of the common flock of matter as it is fitted to operate upon, which it draws to itfelf, and caufes to form an animal, or a plant, or a mi> neral, or metal, of this or that nature, ac- cording to the original nature of the feed. Suppofe a plant fubjedted to all the torture of the chymical queflion : you find it contains various matters $ an earth, water, oil, fait, fpirit, and in the three laft perhaps fome- thing fpecific, and differing from other plants. But neither the fame quantities of fimilar patter, nor thefe very matters thcmfelves, can
ever
- ''i'\'
220 An Account of the European
ever come to form a plant like the original, or any thing like a plant at all, becaufe the fe- minal virtue is wanting, nor is it perhaps difcoverable. And as for the other matters, they are the inert parts of the plant j with- out power themfelves, they are the materials with which, and on which the fcminal virtue afts, to organize the mafs, to fpread the bran- ches, to (hoot out the gems, to mature the fruit, and in fhort to perform all the func- tions of a complete plant. The fame may be faid of animals. And why not of minerals, though of a lefs nice organization ? Why ihould they not have the feminal principle too, which operating by its own power, and in a way of its own, upon the elements of air, earth, water, oil, and fait, is capable of pro- ducing iron, copper, gold, lilver, and other metals. The want of this will always hin- der us from being able to produce any metal from other tlian metalline ingredients, though we fhould take fuch things as refemble the ingredients they yield upon an analyfis, and in the fame quantities in which we find them. This I do not fay as favouring the notion that ftones and metals vegetate exadlly like plants. That thefe are often found where they had formerly been exhaufted, and that they are known to extend their dimenfions, is pretty certain ; but that they affimilate the hetero- geneous matter which increafes their bulk,
in
w^
fH',,-- iffs^."' '!»W'' *■■ ' •'•1?'
or fe. ips Jrs, h- als tue m- he ic- be
Settlements in America. 221
in a manner analogous to plants, I cannot venture to propofc. It muft be allowed that filver has been found, and I have fo fecn it, extending itfelf among the inter ftices of ftones, not unlike ivy and other parafite plants ; yet as a metal no way differing from it, or at all inferior, is extradied from ores, which have an appearance altogether different, and which too is the ufual way, it is probable the man- ner in which they grow is not the fame.
What I had to fay of gold and filver, as both are found, and the latter in vafl quanti- ties, in Mexico, I thought it proper, for the fake of avoiding repetitions, to bring them under this head, though all the refl of the Spanifh territories produce largely of both.
Of the plenty of gold and filver, which the mines of Mexico afford, great things have been faid, and with juflice ; as this, with the other Spanifh colonies in America, in a manner furnifh the whole world with filver 5 and bear a great proportion in gold to the whole of what the world produces. A late very judicious coUedtor of voyages fays, that the revenues of Mexico can hardly fall fhort of twenty-foui millions of our money. He founds this upon a return made by the bifhops of their tenths, which, without doubt, were not over-rated ; and that thefe amounted to one million and a half flerling j that thefe are about a fourth of the revenues of the clergy ;
and
2ii Ah AcCOtlilT of /i&^ feuROPfiAN
iand that the eftates of the clergy are about the fourth part of the whole revenues of the kingdom, which at this rate amount to twen- ty-four millions Engliih. He takes another method of computing the w"ealth df this pro- vince, which is, by the fifth paid to the king of th6 gold and filver dug out of their mines. This he obferves in the year 1730 amounted to one million of marks in filver, each m?rk equivalent to eight ounces ; fo that if we compute this filver at five {hillings per ounce, then the inhabitants receive froni their mines ten millions in mohey. What a prodigious idea muft this calculation give us of the united product of all the American mines ? How inuch muft be allowed in this account for the exaggeration of travellers, and the oftentation of Spaniards, I will not pretend to determine. The plate circulated in trade, or lying dead as the ornament of churches and houfes, though a great deal is undoubtedly employed in all thefe ways, did not feem to me to juf- tify fo vaft a computation 5 but as the gentle- man who has confidered this point with un- common attention is of another opinion, I wave any further obfervation upon it.
'I- V
f f
, t
CHAP.
fpgtnrn-mm.n i-HJ
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Settlements in America. I2j
CHAP. IV.
Of cochineal and cacao,
COCHINEAL, the next commodity for value which they export, is ufed in dye* ing all the feveral kinds of the fineft fcarlet, crimfon, and purple. After much difpute about the nature of this curious drug, it feems at laft agreed, that it is of the animal kind ; an infed of the fpecies of the gall infedis. This animal is found adhering to various plants, but there is only one which commu- nicates to it the qualities which make it va« luable in medicine and manufadtures. This plant is called opuntia by the botanifls. It confifts wholly of thick fucculent oval leaves, joined end to end, and fpreading or.t on the fides in various ramifications. Th^j flower is large, and the fruit in fhape refembling a fig; this fruit is full of a crimfon juice, and to this juice it is that the cochineal infedt owes its colour.
When the rainy feafons come on, they who cultivate this plant, cut off thofe heads which abound mofl with fuch infedts» as are not yet at their full growth; and prefervc them very carefully from the weather and all other injuries. Thefe branches, though fepa- latcd from their parent flocks, preferve their
frefhnefs
224 -^ AccouKT of the European frefhricfs and juices a long time 5 and this en<« ables the infedt not only to live out the rains, but to grow to its full fize, and be in readinefs to bring forth its young, as foon as the incle- mency of the feafon is over. When this time comes on, they are brought out, and placed upon the proper plants, difpofed in little nefts of fome mofly fubftance. As foon as they feel the enlivening influence of the frefti air, they bring forth in three or four days from their expofure at farthefl. The young fcarce bigger than a mite, runs about with a wonderful celerity, and the whole plan- tation is immediately peopled ; yet what is fomewhat fingular, this animal, fo lively in its infancy, quickly lofes all its adtivity, and attaching itfelf to fome of the lead expofed, and moft fucculent part of the leaf, it clings there for life, without ever moving, not wound- ing the leaf for its fuftenance, but fucking with a probofcis, with which it is furniihed for this purpofe.
What is not lefs remarkable than the way of life of this animal, is the nature of the male, which has no appearance of belonging to the fame fpecies j far from being fixed to a fpot, he has wings, and is, like the butterfly, continually in motion ; they are fmaller than the cochineal, and conflantly feen amongfi them, and walking over them without being fufpeded by thofc who take care of the infed,
of
Settlements in AMERtcA^ 225
of being a creature of the fame kind, though they believe that the cochineals are impreg- nated by them. But it is the female cochi-» neal only which is gathered for ufe.
They make four gatherings a year, which are fo many generations of this animal. When they are fufficiently careful, they brufh off the irife(fls one by one with a fort of hair pencils, and take them as they fall ; but they often brufh the whole plant in a carelefs manner, fo that fragments of it are mixed with the cochineals, and themfelves mixed, the old and young together, which carelefsnefs abates much of the value j but what chiefly makes the goodnefs of this commodity, is the man- ner of killing and drying the cochineals, which is performed three ways ; the firft is by dip- ping the bafket in which it is gathered into boiling water, and afterwards drying them in the fun, this the Spaniards call renegrida. The fecond method is by drying them in ovens made for the purpofe 5 this, from its grey colour, veined with purple, is called jafpeade. The third manner is, when the Indians dry them on their cakes of maize, which are baked upon flat fl:ones ; this lafl: is the worfl: kind, as it is generally overbaked, and fomething burned. They call it negra.
This drug has a very uncommon good quality, and the more extraordinary as it be- longs to the animal kingdom, and to the mod
Vol. I. Q^ ' periih-
'■§!
f» ii iji
I
226 An AccouNf of the EuRot»''AM
perirtiable of that kind, that it ntvcr decays. Without any other care than having been put by in a box, fonie have been known to keep fixty, fome even upwards of a hundred years, and as fit for the purpofes of medicine, or manufadure, as evcr^ it was. It is ufed in medicine as a cordial and fudorific, in which intentions few things anfwer better. And indeed as it anfwers fuch good purpofes in medicine, is fo efTential in trade, and pro- duced only in this country, it may be confi- dcred in all markets as equivalent to gold or filver, by the certainty and quicknefs of the fale. It is computed they annually export no Icfs than nine hundred thoufand pound weight of this commodity.
The cocao, or cacao of which chocolate is ipade, is a confiderable article in the natural hiftory and commerce of New Spain. It grows upon a tree of a middling iize j the wood is fpungy and porous, the bark fniooth, and of a cinamon colour : the flower grows in bunches between the flalk and the wood, of the form of rofes, but fmall, and without any fcent. The fruit is a fort of pod, which contains the cacao, much about the fize and fliapc of a cucumber. Within there is a pulp of a moil refrcfhing acid tafle, which fills up the int^rftices between the nuts before they are ripe; but when they fully ripen, thefe nuts are pa^ck^d up wonderfully clofe, and in
a mpft
*fH»,*,'W f iif W ^111 I
Settlements in America. 227
a moft regular and elegant order 5 they have a pretty tough (hell, and within is the oily rich fubftance, of which chocolate is made. This fruit grows differently from our Euro- pean fruits, which always hang upon the fmall branches 5 but this grows along the body of the great ones, principally at the joints. None are found upon the fmall, which, though it is a manner of vegetation unknown here, prevails in feveral other plants within the tropics. This cacao is a very tender tree, equally impatient of the wind, heat or cold, and will flourifh only in the (hade ; for which reafon in the cacao walks, they always plant a palm-tree for every one of cacao. I need fay little of the ufe of this fruit ; it is gene- ral amon ^(t ourfelves, and its virtues well known ; but however great the external call for it may be, the internal confumption is much greater 5 fo that in Mexico and Terra Firma, in fome provinces of which latter it is found in the greateft perfedtion, their fo- reign and domeftic commerce in this article is immenfe, and the profits fo great, that a fmall garden of the cacaos is faid to produce twenty thoufand crowns a year. Though I believe this to be exaggerated, it (hews, how- ever, in what a light of profit this commo- dity is confidered. At home it makes the principal part of their diet, and is found whol- ibme, nutritious, and fuitablc to the climate.
0^2 This
Ws
m Pi!.'
m
228 Jn Account of the European This fruit is often confounded with the cocoa nut, which is a fpecies wholly different.
CHAP. V.
ne trade of Mexico, Some account of that city, . The fairs of Acapulco^ and La Vera Cruz^ The fota and regijler Jhips.
THE trade of Mexico may be confidered as confiding of three great branches, by which it communicates with the whole world ; the trade with Europe by La Vera Cruz 5 the trade with the Eaft-Indies by Aca- pulco 5 and the commerce of the South- Sea by the fame port. The places in New Spain, which can intereft a ftranger, are therefore three only, La Vera Cruz, Acapulco, and Mexico.
Mexico, the capital of the kingdom, the refidence of the viceroy, the feat of the fir ft audience or chamber of juftice, and an arch- bifhopric, is certainly one of the richelt and moft fplendid cities, not only in America, but in the whole world. Though no fea-porl town, nor communicating with the fea by any navigable river, it has a prodigious com- merce, and is itfelf the center of all that is carried on Ijctween America and Europe on one hand, "^^nd between America and the
iEaft-Indies on the other ; for here the prin-
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Settlements in America. 229
cipal merchants refide, the greateft part of the bufinefs is negociated, and the goods that pafs from Acapulco to La Vera Cruz, or from La Vera Cruz to Acapulco, for the ufe of the Philippines, and in a great meafurc for the ufe of Peru and Lima, all pafs through this city, and employ an incredible number of horfes and mules in the carriage. Hither all the gold and filver comes to be coined, here the king's fifth is depofited, and here is wrought all that immenfe quantity of utenfils and ornaments in plate, which is every year fent into Europe. Every thing here has the greateft air of magnificence and wealth ; the fhops glitter upon all fides with^ the expofurc of gold, filver, and jewels, and furprize yet more by the work of the imagination upon the treafures which fill great chefts piled up to the ceilings, whilft they wait the time of being fent to Old Spain. It is faid that the negro wenches, who run by the coaches of the ladies there, wear bracelets of gold, pearl necklaces, and jewels in their ears, whilft the black foot- boys are all over covered with lace and embroidery, It cannot exadly be afcertained what number of people are in this city. It is certainly very confiderable, by many not made lefs than feventy or eighty thoufand. This city itfelf is well and regu- larly built, though the houfes are« not lofty j the monafteries are numerous, and richly en-
Q_3 dowed^
_^ *.* s
a^o An Account of the European
dowcd, and the churches extravagantly rich in their ornaments, though comparatively poor in the tafte of their archite<5lure.
The port neareft to this city is Acapulco, upon the South- Sea, upwards of two hundred miles diftant from the capital. Acapulco it- felf has one of the deepeft, fecureft, and moft commodious harbours in the South-Sea, and indeed almoft the only one which is good upon the Weftern coaft of New Spain. The entrance of the harbour is defended by a caftlc of tolerable ftrength \ the town itfelf is but ill built, and makes every way a miferable figure, except at the time of the fairs, when it intirely changes its appearance, and becomes one of the moft confiderable marts in the world. About the month of December, the great galleon, which makes the whole communica- tion that is between America and the Philip- pines, after a voyage of five months, and fail- ing three thoufand leagues without feeing any other land than the Little Ladrones, arrives here loaded with all the rich commodities of the Eaft ; cloves, pepper, cinamon, nut- megs, mace, china, japan wares, callicoes plain and painted, chints, muflins of every fort, filks, precious ftones, rich drugs, and gold duft. At the fame time the annual (hip from Lima comes in, and is not com- puted to bring Icfs than two millions of pieces of eight in filver, bcfides quickfilver, cacao,
drugs,
w.w*l'i^"n(fLr^,!,J*Jy(T'^*"'''' ■*■•" -'WiW^"fl"*"-':l''l'WMil!!,"'
SE*rttEMENTs in America. 231
dfugs, and other valuable commodities, to be kid out in the purchdfe of the commodities of the Eaft-Ihdifcs. Several other fhips from ditfererit parts of Chili and Peru met t upon the fiimfc occaiioh ; and beiides the traffic for the Philippine commodities, this caufes a very large dealing for every thing thofe coun- tries baV6 to exchange with one anotherj as well as for the purchafe of all forts of Euro- pean gobds. The fair lafts fomctirties for thirty days. As foon as the goods are difpofed of, rhe galleon prepares to fet out on her voyage to the Philippines with her returns, chiefly ih fflvei", btit With fome European goods too, and fome other commodities of America. I fp6ak here, as though there Were but one veffel on the trade \Vith the Philippines ; and in faA there is only nominally one trading vef- fel, the galleon itfelf, of about twelve hun- dred tuns 5 but another attends her commonly as a fbt't of convoy, which generally carries fuch a quantity of goods as pretty much dif- ables her from performing that office. The galleon has often above a thoufand people on board, either intereiled in the cargo, or mere- ly paffengers ; and there is no trade in which fo large profits are made ; the captain of the veffel, the pilots, their mates, and even the common failors, making in one voyage, wh^t in their feveral ranks m^y be confidered as ^afy fortunes. It is faid by th^ vvriter of lord
Q^ Anfon's
z^2 jin Account of the European Anfon's voyage, that the jefuits have the pro^ fits of this (hip to fupport their miflions j and if fo, their gains muft be extremely great, and muft add much to the confequence of a fociety which has as great a reputation for its riches as its wifdom*
This commerce to fo vaft a value, though carried on diredly between the king of Spain's own dominions, enriches them in proportion but very little ; the far greater part of every thing that comes from the Philippines, being the produce, or the fabric of other countries; the Spaniards add none of the artificial value of labour to any thing. The Chinefe are largely interefted in this cargo, and it is to them they are indebted for the manufacfluring fuch of their plate, as is wrought into any better falhion than rude ingots, or inelegant coins. When this fair is over, the town is comparatively deferted j however, it remains for the whole year the moft confiderable port in Mexico for the trade with Peru and Chili, which is not very great. The Eaft-India goods brought here are carried on mules to Mexico, from whence what exceeds their own confumption !s fent by land carriage to La Vera Cruz, to pafs over to Terra Firma, to the iflands, and fome even to Old Spain, though in no great quantity.
From the port of La Vera Cruz it is that
the great wealth of Mexico is poured out
. , ^ . upon
Settlements in America. 233
upon all the old world ; and it is from this port alone, that they receive the numberlefs luxuries and neceffaries that the old world yields them in return. To this port the an- nual fleet from Cadiz, called the flota, arrives about the latter end of November, after a paflage of nine weeks. This fleet, which fails only from Cadiz, confifts of about three men of war as a convoy, and fourteen or fif- teen large merchant fliipB, from four hundred to one thoufand tuns burthen. They are load<- ed almoft with every fort of goods which Europe produces for export ; all forts of woollens, linens, filks, velvets, laces, glafs, paper, cutlery, all forts of wrought jron, watches, clocks, quickfilver, horfe furniture, {hoes, {lockings, books, piftures, military {tores, wines and fruits, fo that all the trading parts of Europe are highly intere{led in the cargo of this fleet. Spain itfelf fends out little more than the wine and fruit. This, with the freight and commi{nons to the merchant, and the duty to the king, is almofl all the ad- vantage which that kingdom derives from her commerce with the Indies. It is {Iriiflly pro- hibited to load any commodities on board this fleet without entering the goods, the value, and the owner's name, in the India houfe at Seville j and when they return, they mu{l bring a certificate from the proper officer there, that the goods were duly landed, and
in
234 -^^ Account of the European in the proper port. They arc not permitted to break bulk upon any account until they arrive at La Vera Cruz, nor are they fuffercd to take in any other than Spanifli paffengers, nor them without a licence firft obtained at the India houfe. - -
Jealoufy is the glaring charafter of thfc court of Spain, in whatever regards their American empire j and they often facrifice the profperity to an exceffive regard to the fecu- rity of their poffeffions. They attend in this trade principally to two objcdts; the exclu- fion of all flrangers from any (hare in it, and the keeping up the market for fuch goods as they fend j tind they think both thefe ends befl anfwered by fending out only one annual fleet, and that from one only port in Spain, and to one port only in Mexico. Thefe views, which would be impolitic in any power in Europe befides, are judicious enough in Spain ; becaufe the goods they fend belong- ing moftly to ftrangcrs, and the profits upon the fale in the Indies being the only thing that really accrues to themfelves, it is cer- tainly right to conlult primarily how they ftiall get the greateft «-eturns upon the fmalleft quantity of goods. It would be quite other- wife, if all, or mod of what they fend abroad, were their own produce or manufad:ure. They are undoubtedly right too in keeping the trade very carefully to themfelves, though
perhaps
Settlements in America, 235
perhaps the means t;:>ken to attain this end, will not be thought fo rational. By fufFering all the trade to be carried on only between two ports, they difcourage in the old world all their towns from that emulation, which would not only enable them to traffic in fo- reign commodrties, but in time to fet up fa- brics of their own 5 whereas now, with re- gard to the export of their commodities, they fiand upon the level of ftrangers ; they can- not carry their produce diredkly to the beft market ; and it is very certain, that even tri- fling difcouragements operate very powerfully where the commercial fpirit is weak, and the trade in its infancy. Again; in the new worlds this confinement of the trade encourages in- terlopers, and an illicit commerce, too gainful for any regulations to prevent, and which may aSbrd fuch bribes as will difarm the moil ri- gid juftice, and lull the moft attentive vigi- knce. So that in reality it may greatly be doubted, whether the precautions, fo fyftefna- tically purfued, and improved from time to time with fo much care and forcfight, are at bottom of moft advantage or prejudice to that nation. It was probably fome confideration of this kind, that firft gave rile to the cuftom of regifter (hips : it was found that this con- fined commerce fupplied its extcnfive ol^ed: very imperfedlly ; and that thofe who were at watch to pour in counterband goods, would
take
236 -^« Account o/* /;&^ European take advantage of this want of a regular fup- ply from Spain. When therefore a company of merchants of Cadiz or Seville, judge that goods muft be wanting at any certain port ia the Weft-Indies, the courfe is, to petition the council of the Indies for licence to fend a fhip of three hundred tons, or under, to that port. They pay for this licence forty or fifty thoufand dollars, befides prefents to the of ficers, in proportion to the connivance ner^f- fary to their defign j for though the licence runs to three hundred tons at the utmoft, the veiTe I fitted out is feldom really lefs than fix hundred. This fhip and cargo is regiftered at the pretended burthen. It is required too, that a certificate be brought from the king's officer at the port to which the regifter fliip is bound, that (he does not exceed the fize at at which (he is regiftered j all this paffes of courfe ; thefe are what they call regifter ftiips, and by thefe the trade of Spanifli America has been carried on principally for fome years paft, fome think as much to the prejudice of their trade, as contrary to all their former maxims in carrying it on. But to return to the fiota. . •► • •^•f
.; When all the goods are landed, and dif- pofed of at La Vera Cruz, the fleet takes in the plate, precious ftones, cochineal, indigo, cacao, tobacco, fugar, and hides, which arc their returns for Old Spain. Sometimes in
May,
Settlements in AwE^ickl 237
May, but more frequently in Auguft, they are ready to depart. From La Vera Cruz they fail to the Havanna in the iile of Cuba, which is the place of rendezvous where they meet the galleons j another fleet which carries on all the trade of Terra Firma by Cartha- gena, and of Peru by Panama and Porto-bello, in the fame manner that the flota ferves for that of New Spain. When they arrive at this port, and join the galleons and the regifter {hips that ^.uiledt at the fame port from all quarters, fome of the cleaneft and beft failing of their vefTels are difpatched to Spain, with advice of the contents of thefe feveral fleets, as well as with treafure and goods of their own, that the court may judge what indulto or duty is proper to be laid on them, and what convoy is neceflfary for their fafety. Thefe fleets generally make fome ilay at the Havan-* ha before all the (hips that compofe them are colledted and ready to fail. As foon as this happens they quit the Havanna, and beat through the gulph of Florida, and pafling between the Bahama iflands, they hold their courfe to the North-Eaft, until they come to the height of St. Auguftin, and then fl:eer away to Old Spain. When the .flota has left La Vera Cruz, it has no longer the appear-- ance of a place of confequence 5 it is a town in a very unhealthy fituation, inhabited fcarce- ly by any. but Indians, Mezteze§, gr negroes. .....v All
^3^ -^ AccouNt of the EuROPtAii
All the merchants of any confcqucncc refidtf, at fome diflance, at a place called Los An-^ gelos. This toWn may contain about three Sioufand inhabitants.
C H A i>. VI.
I '■•
Three forts of people in New Spain, The whifesj InaianSy and negroes ; the chambers of thofe; The clergy J their characters, 7be civil go^ 'vernment, its chara^er,
THE inhabitants of New Spain are compofcd of people of three ^''iFerent races ; whites, Indians, and negroes, or the feveral mixtures of thofe. The whites are either born in Old Spain, or they are Creoles j thofe who are native Spaniards are moilly in offices, or in trade, and have the fame :ha- radler and manners with the Spaniards of Europe ; the fame gravity of behaviour, the fame natural fagacity and good fenfe, the fame indolence, and a yet greater ibare of pride and ilacelinefs ; for here they look upon the being natives of OIH Spain as a very honourable di(lin(ftioh, and are in return looked upon by the Creoles with no fmall (hare of hatred and envy. The latter have little of that firmnefs and patience which makes one of the Hned parts of the character of the native Spaniard. They have little courage, and arc univerfally i. ;\ ' ■ weak
Setitlements in America. 239
weak and efFeminate. Living as they do in a conftaflt enervating heat, furfeited with wealth, and giving up their whole time to loitering and inactive pleafures, they have nothing bold or manly to fit them for making a figure in adkive life ; and few or none have any taftc for the fatisfa<^ions of a learned retirement. Luxurious without variety or elegance, and cxpenfive with great parade, and litde con* veniency, their general charadler is no more than a grave and fpecious iniignificance.
They are temperate at their tables and in' their cups, but from idlenefs and conflitution» their whole bufinefs is amour and intrigue ; thefe they carry on in the old SpaniQi tafte, by • doing and faying extravagant things, by bad mufic, worfe poetry, and exceffive expences. Their ladies are little celebrated for their cha-^ ftity or domeftic virtues; but they are ftill' a good deal retrained by the old-faihioned^ etiquette, and they exert a genius which is not contemptible, in combating the reftraints which that lays them under.
The clergy are extremely numerous, and their wealth and influence cannot be doubted among fo rich and fuperftitious a people. It is faid, that they adually pofTefs a fourth of the revenues of that whole kingdom j which, after all abatements, certainly amounts to fe- veral millions. And as to their numbers, it is not extravagant to fay, that priefts, monks, u::: and
m'
'fei
240 An Account of the European
and nuns of all orders, arc upwards of one fifth of all the white people, both here and in the other parts of Spaniih America. But the clergy here being too ignorant in general to be able inftrudtors by their preaching, and too loofe and debauched in their own man* ners to inftrud by their example, the people are little the better for their numbers, wealth or influence. Many of them are no other than adventurers from Old Spain, who with- out regard to their character or their vows, Hudy nothing but how to raife a fudden for- tune, by abufing the ignorance and extreme credulity of the people. A great deal of at- tention is paid to certain mechanical methods of devotion. Moral duties are little talked of. An extreme veneration for faints, lucra- tive to the orders they have founded, or arc fuppofed to patronize, is ftrongly inculcated, and makes the general fubjedt of their fer- XTions, defigned rather to raife a flupid admi- ration of their miracles, than an imitation of the fandtity of their lives. However, having faid this, it mad be confidered as all general ^obfervations, with the reafonable allowances ; for many of the dignified clergy, and others among them, underftand, and pradife the duties of their flation, and fome whole or- ders, as that of the jefuits, are here as they are elfewhere, diftinguifliable for their learn- ing, and the decency of their behaviour. And
^ertainly^
^SETTLEMENTS in AMERICA, 24 1
certainly, . witji all their faults, in one refpedt their zeal is highly commendable i that they are the caufe of feveral charitable founda- tbnsj and that they bring the Indians and blacks into fomc knowledge of religion, and in fome meaf^re mitigate their flayery. This too has a good political effedt, for thofe flaves are mpre faithful than ours, and though in- dulged with greater liberty, are far lefs dan- gerous, f I do not remember that any infur-». redtion has been ever attempted by themi and the Indians are redviced to more of a ci- vilized life, than they are in the colonies of any other European nation. . ; ymu u-mtvl ^r This race of people are now, whatever they were formerly, huml^le, dejedled, timo'» rou&, and docile 5 they are generally treated with great indignity. The ftate of all peo- ple fubjedted to another, people, is infinitely worfe,t)h;?m what they fiiffer from the prefTure of thefworft form, of the worft adminiftra* tion bjF .'any government of their ovfn^.i^r/:.- .\ The /blacks here, lis they are imported froni, Africa, have the fame cha;:a(fter as the blafkSi of our colonies ; ftobborn, hardy, c^ an. or4inary underftandiiig, ^n4 (itted, for the grofsllavery they endure. ? '» > ■-
Such are tl; : ch^r^dters of the people, not only pf New Spaing b^tof ^U Spanifti Ame- rica. ; When any thing materially different occurs, I (hall not, fail to mentbn it. -, VoL.I. R The
m
is
I
III,
442 M Account of the European - The civil government is admihiftfcfed by tribunals, which bete are called andieilccs, confiftteg of a certain nurtiber of judges, di- vided into different chanibcrs, tnorc rcfem- blihg the parliaments in France than out courts. At the head of the chief of thefe chambers the viceroy himfelf ptefides when he fees fit. His employment is one of the greateft tritft atnd power the kii^ of Spain has m his gift ; and is perhapis the richeft govern* ment entrufted to any fubjedl: in the world. All employments here are held only by na- tive Spaniards, and by them bttt fot a certain limited times moft not above three years. Jealoufy, iii this refpe^^ as in alt others rela- tive to ^he Indies, is the fpii'it that inftaenccs all their regulations \ and it has this very bad effect J that every oMcer^ from the bigheft to the lowcfft^ has the aviditjr Whibha neW and lucrative poftinfpires; ravenous becaiifi? his time is ftjort, he opprdffdJ the jiieo^le, and defrauds the crown ; ahother fucc^eds hini with the lame difpofitions i and no liian is tareful to eflablifli any thing uffifiri ih his 4»ffice, knowing that his Aicceffor will be fare to trample upon every regulation which is not fubfervient to his own intercfts j fo that this enflaved people has not the power of put- ting in ufc the fox's poUdy, of letting the *rS fwarm of bloodfuckcrs ft ay on, but is obliged to fubmit to be drained by a con- jiii '» i .J ftant
ih
Settlements /« AMERicAr 243
Ifeht fifcd^iiioh of hungry and impatient harpies. ■ ''^'"' "<■ ^i^-'^'-M^ ^^^' -^^^^^ ''>'^---^
There are fome troops kept in New Spain, and a good revenue appropriated for their maintenance, and for the fupport of the for- tifications there 5 but the foldiers are few 5 ill cloathed, ill paid, and /orfe difciplined j the military here keep pace with the civil and ecclefiafiical adminiftration, and every thing
i^ajbbb::'' ^'' " ^■*'*'"' '" '"'" -^ ''''•"'' '^' i:- ^i/oi iijj^Li ^(r.^ri^ji ii;.qv;j ■ v;.Ht vofi> /" ,;'. :■■
"jid'jn nYsa
:, C H A p. VII.
1'
.«:./!
1
/in Jr-^f.-T .
New Mexico. Its 4ifcovefy. Climate- Pro-- duSts, He Englijh claim to California^
ft W Mexico' Ke^' to the North and North-Eaft of New Spain. Its bounds to the North are not afcertained. Taking in California, it has the great South-Sea to the Weft, and to the Eaft it is bounded by the French pretenfions on the MifSfippi. This country lies, for the moft part, within the temperate zone, and has a moft agreeable cli- mate, and a foil in many places produdlive of every thing for profit or delight. It has rich mines of filver, and fome of gold, which are wbrked more and more every day ; and it produces precious ftones of feveral kinds ; but it has no diredl intercourfe with any part of Europe. The country is but little known
R 2 ac
ii
if
llil
244 ^^ Account of the European at all to Europeans ; and the Spanifli fettle- ments there are comparatively weak ; how- ever, they are every day increafing in pro- portion as they difcover mines ; which are iiere not inferior to any that have been dlf- covered in the other parts of America. The inhabitants are moftly Indians, but in many places lately reduced by the Spanifli miflio- naries to chriftianity, to a ':ivilized life, to follow trades, and to mf^ corn and wine, which they now export pretty largely to Old Mexico. This ufeful. change was principally effedtcd at the expertce of a Spanifli noble- man, the marquis Velafco, whom the reve- rend author of lord Anfdn's voyage calls, for that reafon, a munificent bigot. iV LK? * « The famous peninfula. of California is a part, and far from an^ Jnconfiderablc part of this country. It is a place finely iituated for trade, and has a pearl fiffiery of great value. It was firft difcovered by the great conqueror of Mexico Hernando C^ortes. Our famous admiral and navigator Si? Francis Drake land- ed there, and took poffeffion of it in I57B> and he not only took polTeffion, but obtained the heft right in the world to the pofTeffion ; the principal king having formally irivefted him with his principajity. However, I do not find that we have thought of aflerting that right fince his time ; but it may proba- bly employ, in fomc future time, the pens of
• -' 'thofc
3«
Settlements itt America. 245
ihofe lawyers who difpute with words, what can only be decided by the fword, and will afford large matter upon the right oi difco* very, occupancy and fettlement. - 1
-'>-!-
^^>■ .T^C
. ». . . -».. ^. ^. — -
C H A P. VIII,
:j . ;J!jO Yiu
The climate and foil of Peru, Its produce, The minesy the coca and herb of Paraguay.
TH E conqueft of Peru, atchieved in fo extraordinary a manner, brought into the power of Spain a country not lels weal- thy, and nearly as extenfive as Mexico ; but fyx beyond it for the conveniency of habita- tion and the agreeablenefs of the climate. Like Mexico it is within the torrid zone j yet having on one fide the South-Sea, and on the other the great ridge of the Andes through its whole length, the joint effeds of the ocean and th6 mountains temper thd equinodial heat in a manner equally agreeable and fur- prifing. With a fky for the moft part clou- dy, which (hields them from the rays of the vertical fun, it never rains in this country. But every night a foft benign dew broods upon the earth, and refr.cflies the grafs and plants fo as to produce in fome parts the greateft fertility ; what the dew wants in per- fedling this, is wrought by the vaft number of ftreams, to which the frequent rains and -- - R 3 the
246 -^^ Accout^T of the European the daily melting of the fnow on thofc afto- nifhing mountains give rife ; for thofe moun- tains, though within the tropics,, have their tops continually covered with fnow, which is an appearance unparallelled in the fame cli- mate. Along the fea coaft Peru is generally a dry barren fand, except by the banks of the rivers and ftreams we have mentioned, where it is extremely fertile, as are all the valleys in the hilly country.
, The caufe of the want of rain in ^11 the flat country of Peru, is difficult to be afligned j though the agents in it are not improbably the conftaat South- Weft wind, that prevails there for the greateft part of the year 5 and the immenfe height of the mountains, cold with a conftant fnow. The plain country be- tween, refrefhed as it is on the one hand by the cool winds that blow without any varia- tion from the frigid regions of the South, and heated as uniformly by the dire<5 rays of the equinodtial fun, preferves fuch an equal temper, that the vapour once elevated can hardly ever defcend in rain : But in the moun- tainous part of the country, by the alternate contradion and dilation of the air from the daily heats, and the fucceeding colds, which the fnows communicate in the abfence of the iun, as Well as from the unequal temper of the air which prevails in all hilly places, the rain falls very |)lcntifally \ the climate in the
1 1
moMn"
w^^^^fw
1f!P^S^!P»7^'i^"!l!HW!Br'
Settlements in America. 247
mountainous countries is extremely change^ able, and the changes fudden.
All along the coafl of Peru, a current fets Arongly to the North ; further out to fea it pafles with equal rapidity to the South. This current probably moves eddy wife ; for having run as far as its moving caufe impels it, it naturally paflbs back again where it has leaft refifknce. The ignorance of this dou- ble current made the navigation in the South feas orijgi^^ally v Jiy uncertain ai^d fatiguing ; txut i^ow the courfe i^, for thofe who pafs from Ch^li to Peru, to keep in ;to the (hore in their paflage to CaU^o, iind on their return to ftand out a great many leagues toiea, and take the Sopt^ern current home^w^rds. The fame method, i)ut revcrfed, is qbferved in the voyages between Panama, find all the other Northern countries, and the ports of Peru.
The commodities of Peru, for export, may be reduced to thefe articles. jPirft, iilver and gold ; fecondly, wine, oil, and brandy ^ thirdly, Vigonia wool ; fourthly, jefuits b;irk j fifthly, Guii;iea or Jamaica pepper. Of the firft of thefe articles we have already treated in our defcription of Mexico. The mines of gold in Peru, are almoft all in the Northern part, not very remote from Lima j thofe of filver almofl wholly in the Southern. The voyagers who treat of this country, are generally pretty diffufe in their accountsofthepxincipal places,
R 4 where
Wj
248 An Account ef ffc European
where mines are found ; but it does not there- fore give us encouragement to infift much on thefe particulars; becaufe they, contain very little in ftruftion in themfelves j; and if they were things in their own bature inftrufiive, it would be little to the puipofeto dwdf upon what is continually changing. New mines are daily opened, and the old cxhauftcd or deferred. The towns fhift with the mines, A rich mine is always founder of a town in proportion to its produce i the town which it fubfifts, when the mine is exhauft^d^ difap- pears. Indeipd the great tnines of Potofi in the province of Los Charcas, are the inheri- tance of ages ; and after having eniiched the world for centuries, ftill continue the incx- hauftibl^^fburces gf new treafure. Thty dre not however quite fo valuable now as former- ly; not fo much from firiy failure of the vcini as from the immcnfe depth to which they^bavc purfucd it, whjph by the greater labour 'nc- ceffary, leffcns the profit on what it yields, in proportion as they defcend 5 befidcs new mines are daily opened, which are worked at a lefs expence; fo that the accounts we have had of the great number which inhabited the city of Potofi, w;hen Mr. Frczier was in that country, mufl have fi nee fuffered fome abate- ment. It had then upwards of feventy ihou- fand fouls, Spaniards and Indiai^s ; of which the latter were Jxx to one. ^-^i^ —^\hk^^'v.
The
iV
Settlements m
ICA.
249
' The Spaniards oblige this unfortunate peo- ple to fend annually a certain number from the viHag^s of the adjacent country, who arc compelled to work for a limited time ; after- wards they may return. But having loft the fweetnefs of their former connedlions, they that furvive this flavery commonly fettle in the city of Potbfi. It is incredible how thefe mines (the moft terrible fcourge with which God could afflidt the inhabitants,) have con- tributed to depopulate this country. Worfc they are than fword or peftilence ; equally fatal to their lives ; and where thofe efcape, they are embittered by the circumftance of an ignominious flavery, without any profpedt of end or mitigatibn. The effedls of this fervi-^ tilde would be yet more fital; if it vireffc libt for the ufe of an herb which the inhabitants call Coca, to vvhich they afcribci the moft ex- traordinary virtuesj iand which they conftant- ly ufe. Its qualities feem to be of the opiate kind, and to have fome refemblance to thofe of tobacco i for it produces a kind of ftupld compofure. It is an antidote againft poilbns and poifonous effluvia, and makes thofe who ufe it, fubfift a long time without food.. Though neceffary to thofe only who work in the mines, it is ufed for pleafure by all the Indians, who chew it conftantly, though it makes thofe who ufe it ft ink in a moft often- five manner. This heib is gathcjred by the ■?.r I , Indians
%'
"PTT^T.^^i"? ■ V .^' •*!;■
250 >fiKi AcoHJNT of the European
Indians with many fuperftitious ceremonies, to which they attribute its virtues \ for which reafon it is in many parts of Peru, with equal fuperflition, Aridtiy forbidden \ the Spaniards, 9S well as die Indians, giving the credit of its effects to magic, and allowing to thefe more than they delerve ; for they think the Indians fuperiority in ftrength owing principally to them. However, notwitbilanding the feve- rity of the inquifition, which is eftabliflied in all the Spanim dominions with great terror, neceflity makes them wink at the pradtice, where the mines are worked., ^ . ,.^ v«.f... They make ufe of another prefervative, an infuiion of the herb of Paiaguay ; fomething of the nature of tea. The consumption of this in Peru by all ranks of people is prodi« gious. Above 1 8>ooo hundred weight is an- nually brought into Chili and Peru, and is wortn, when the duty is paid, not lefs than 8o,coo pounds Aerling. The fineft of this fpecies of tea cpmes from the country , of the
ts.
. I I.
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V. - .'-IT
CHAP.
Settlements ia America. 2;z
The wines of Peru. The wool, ^e lamas and
^^^ vicunnas^ Jheep of Peru. Jefeats barJu
' Guinea fefper. 7be dung of Iquifua. ^ick"
Jilver mines, j ., ,, .j.,,.^j ^r'l -.; arMYM:. 7
TH E Southern pari of Peru which lies without the tropic of Capricorn, pro^ -duces wine in gveat plenty, but not in a per- fe^bn proporUonable. The Spaniards! diuike and leave it to the Indians and negroes, choi^ ing rather, what may feem odd, to regale in the brandy of the fame wine, which is like- wife made and exported in large quantitiesi not only to all parts of Peru, but to Panama, and tlie ports of New Spain* The greateft quantity is made mear a place otherwife of no confequence, called Moquaga \ here it is faid they make annually of wine and brandy one hundred thoufand jars, which Mr. Ficzier reckons at three million two hundred thou- fand Paris pints, A vaft quantity in a fmall territory. The value of this produce is four hundred thoufand pieces of eight. Other places trade in \^ine, fuch as Pifco, but of a goodnefs not fuperior. Oil is like wife had in reru, but both the wine and oil are moflly the produce of thofe places that lie beyond the Southern tropic. . , , .
Wool
i,
252 An Account of the Europe AKr
Wool makes one of the moil valuable commodities of the growth of this country. And it is not more remarkable for its fine long ftaple, than for the fingularity of the animal which carries it. It is (heered from a fort of flieep, which they call lamas and vicunnas ; the lamas have fmall heads, re- fembling in fome meafure both an horfe and flieep ; the upper lip is cleft like that of the hare, through which, when they are enraged, they fpit even to ten paces diftance, a fort of envenomed juice, which, when it falls on the fkin, caufes a red fpot and great itching. The neck is long like that of a camel ; the body refembles that of a flieep, but the legs arc much longer in proportion. This animal has a difagreeable fmell, but its flejfh is good ; and it is extremely ufeful, not only for the wool, which is very long and fine, but as it is a beaft of burthen, ftrong, patient, and kept at a very eafy expence. It feldom carries above one hundred and fifty pound weight, but then it carries that weight a vaft way without tire- ing, eats very little, and never drinks. As foon as night comes the lama lies down, and no blows can get him to move one foot after the time he deftines for his reft and food.
The vicunna is an animal refembling the lama, pretty much as the dromedary does the camel. He is fmaller and fwifter, with a far finer wool, biit otherwife exactly like the
lama
l.>
Settlements in Amei^ica. 253^
lama in all refpedls. The wool of thefe crea- tures is almod as fine as filk. Probably the famous fheep of Cachemir, of whofe wool they make the little white cloths fo much valued in India, is of this fpecies. I can- not afcertain what quantity of this wool is exported manufadtured or raw out of Peru, cither to New or Old Spain ; but I have rea- fon to believe it is not at all inconfiderablei
The fourth great article of their commerce is jefuits bark, fo well known in. medicine as a fpecific in intermitting diforders, and the* many other great purpofes, which experience daily finds itlo j^nfwer. The tree which jpro- duces this valuable bark, grow's principally in., the mountainous parts of Peru, and t:hat moft and beft in the province of Quito. Conda- mme informs us, that it grows on the hither fide of the Andes, no way inferior to tHe Peruvian in quantity and goodnefs ; the bed is produced on fhie high and rocky grounds s. and it is not fingular in this, for it feems in a good meafure to be the cafe of all plants; v^fhofe juices are much more ftrong and ef- fedlive when elaborated i^ fuch fituatibnsr Thie tree which bears it is about the fize of a; cherry-tree ; its leaves arc rbund and indentr ed ; it bears a long reddifli flower, from whence arifes a fort of hufk, which envelopes a flat and white kernel, not unlike an almond. This bark was firft introduced in France by
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254 An kccov\ir of fbe EvftoftAii
the cardinal Lago, a jefuh, about the ]rear 1650. Hence it had its name of Jefuit's bark. It is faid to have been difcovcred by the acci- dent of an Indian's drinking in a fever of the water of a lake into which fome of thefe trees had fallen, and by which he was cured. This medicine, as ufual, was held in defiance for a good while by the faculty ; but after an obftinate defence, they have thought propet at laft to furrender. Notwithftanding all the. mifchiefs at firft forefeen in its ufe, every body knows that it is at this day innocently and ef- ficacioufly prefcribed in a great variety of cafes; for which reafon it makes a coniiderable and valuable part of the cargo of the galleons.
Guinea pepper, Agi, or as it is called by lis, Cayenne pepper, is a very great article in the trade of Peru, as it is ufed all over Spa- nish America in almoft every thing they eat* This is produced in the greateft quantity in the vale of Arica, a diftrid in the Southern parts of Peru, from whence they export to the annual value of fix hundred thoufand crowns. The diftridl which produces this pepper in fuch abundance, is but fniall, and naturally barren; its fertility in pepper, as well as in grain and fruits; is owing to the advantage of a fpecies of very extraordinary n;ianurc, brought from an ifland called Iqui-
?[ua. This is a fort of yellowifli earth, of a etid fmell. It i^ generally thought to be dung
of
Sb'M'LEMbnt* in America. 255
of bird», bccaufc of the 6militude of the fccnt, that feathery have been found very deep in it, and that vaft numbers of fea fowls appear upon that and all the adjacent coafls. But on tne other hand, whether we look upon thj^ fubftance as the dung of thefe fea fowls, or a particular fpecies of earth, it is alnaoft equally difficult to conceive how the fmall ifland of I,quiqua» not above two miles in circumfe- tence, could fupply fuqh immenfe quantities ; atid yet after fupplying upwards of twelve (hip loads annually for a century together for the aiftant parts, and a vaftly larger quantity for the ufe of the neighbourhood, . it cannot bc 6bferved that it is in the leaft diminifhed, Or that the height of the iiland is at all lefTened. But thefe are matters, which to handle pto- j^erly, requires a more exa<^ knowledge of all the circumftances relating to them, than call be gathered from travellers.
Quickfilver IS a remarkable article in their trade, becaufe the purification of their gold and filver depends upoa it. I do not find that any otiier part of the Spanifh America pro- duces it i fo that Mexico and Terra Firma are fupplied from Old Spain with all they want of that mineral, which is brought them on the king's account only ; except that fome ar- rives from Peru in a counterband manner. In Peru likewife it is monopolized by the crown. ^The principal mine of this extraordinary fub- ftance
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i^ance is at a place called Guancavelica, where it is found in a whitifli mafs, refembling brick ill burned ; this they pound, and put into a furnace vaulted at the top \ it is laid upon au iron grate covered with earth. Through this the fire pafles, and volatilizingj the mineral, it is raifed in a fnioke, whichlnnding no paf- fage but through a little hole contrived for that purpofe, it ruflies through it into a fuc- ccflion of little round veffels, united to each other by the necks; here the fmoak circur latcs, and it condenfes byjA^ans of a little water at the bottom of each veflel, into which the quickfilver falls in a pure heavy liquid, The men who work in the mines of this mi- neral, are yet more fubje(^ to difeafes than thofe who toil in the others, and they make ufc of the fame prefervatives of Paraguay
^ea and coca. ,^ .^^ ^^^^^-h ?f:>c;^t.%ui a.j i;/,? i.'ij • C H A P. X.-f^vji; jn'
^he charaBer (f i:he Peruviam* ^Tbeir divifions, y The Indian feJHvaL Honours paid to a de»
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■^ H E manners of the Spaniards and
" Creolians of Peru refenible, with littje
difference, thofe of the Spaniards and Creo- lians of Mexico, other than that the natives of Peru kcm to be of a more liberal turn,
* * ^ * • and
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Settlements in America* 257
iind o£ greater ingenuity ; but they are for the reater part equally deftitute of all cultivation* he flavery of the Indians is here yet more Severe. The magiftrate and the prieft devour, their whole fubitance i and every Spaniard^ as fonie authors report, infults them with impunity. The traveller takes as much of their provifion as he pleafes, and decides for himfelf what he fliall pay, or whether he ih^ll p^y any thing at all. Comptaints are anfwered with new indignities, and with blows, which it is a crime to return. This cruel irregular bondage contributes to difpeo- plb this country even more than the metho- dical tyranny of the government. To avoid the plunder he is hourly fubjed: to, the ma- flei* of the family often raifes no more graia than what juft fuffices for the fuftenance of his family ; this he buries, and he keeps the fecret of his hoard to himfelfj only drawing out daily juft fo much as ferves for the ufe of the day. If he chances to die fuddenly, the family ftarves j if a bad feafon comes, the calculated produce falls fliort, and they are all reduced to beggary. Yet worfe, they are even the flaves of flaves j for the Spaniards encourage their negroes to treat them with the greateft infolence ; and they politically keep up a rancour, now grown inveterate be- tween thefe two races of people. They are forbidden, under the fcvcreft penaltie.s, to Vol. L * S marry
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iji An Account of the EtTftO!»EAii: marry, or to have an unlawful intercourfe to- gether. Divifion is the great inftrument in which the Spaniards truft for the pr^:(fcrvation of their colonies. The native Spaniard has alone all the lucrative offices, civij, ccclefiafti- cal, and military. He defpifes the Crcolian, The Creolian hates and envies him. Both contemn and maltreat the Indians, who, on their (ide» are not infenfible of the indignities they fuffer. The blacks are encouraged to trample on the Indians, and to confider their interefts as altogether oppofite ; whilft the In- dians in their nominal freedom look with an envious difdain upon the flavery of the ne- groes, which makes them their mafters*
What is extraordinary, the Spaniards, not content with reducing this unhappy nation under fo cruel a yoke, as if they tnought it nothing, unlefs they were thoroughly fenfi- ble of its weight, fuffer the Indians to cele- brate aii annual feftival, in which plays arc reprefented, commemorating the overthrow cf their own ftate. Thefe are a^ted with all the horrid and aggravating circumftances which attended this event > and the people are at this time ib enraged, that the Spaniards find it dangerous to go abroad. In the city of Lima, there is annually celebrated a fefti- val of this kind, with a grand pfoceffion, wherein they carry in a fort of triumph the remaining defcendant of the yncas or Peru, • - • ^ and
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arid his.wife j who at that time receive all Imaginable honours in the moft melancholy pomp, from a race bowed down with the fenfe of the common bondage of prince and peo- ple. This thfowis the moft affe<fting gloom over the.fcMval d^?t renews the image of their former freedom. To this reniaining ynca the ticeroy of Peru docs homage when he enters tipon his government.^ The ynca fits upon a lofty ftage., and the viceroy makes his obei- fanCe Op'on an hoiffe, .who is taught to kneel
tipon thepcCaliort Thia manner ofproceed-
ing m;8iy b^ thought of the nioft refined ftrain of frifolent tyranny, and to be as unpolitic as it is infulting j but it i^ not impoflible that th,of(? ventsj^ ^h|cb they fuffer the indignation of the" pep^ple to take, may carry off a fpirit, tnat n>igtit othferv^ife break out in a much more fttal rnanner. . Whether by the dividon tnrey kedp up, pr hy thefc vents, or by the manag^i^enO of the clergy, or by whatever iTi'<e$[nis, thfe; Spaniards preferve their conquefts \yith y:ei:y Uule force ; the Indians are even zxax^di artd make a confiderable part of their militia ;. it ia true, they are interdided the ufe erf" weapons without licence j but licence is procured without much difficulty. They have likewife a large number of free blacks, artd they too are formed into companies in their militia. Certain it is, that both in the Spanifh and Portuguefe colonies, they find
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-.-5
r CHAP. XI.
^he cities of Peru^ Limay Cufco, and SjuitO', a defcription of them. CallaOy its trade and deJlruSiion. ^he viceroy of Peru. Hisju" rifdiSiioHy and revenues. ..? ,
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HERE are three cities in Peru famous for their opulence and trades Lima, Cufco, and Quito. Lima lies in the Northern part of Peru, in the latitude of 12 South, and 299 longitude from TenerifFe. It ftands about two leagues from the fea, i»pon a river called Rimac, fmall and unnavigable* This city is the capital of Peru, and of all South America ; it extends in length about two miles, and in breadth about one and a quar- ter ; its diilant appearance, from the multitude of fpires and domes, is extremely majeAic, and when you enter it you fee the ftreets laid out with the greatcft regularity, cutting each other at equal dillances and right angles -, the
houfcs.
Settlements in America, 261
houfes, on account of the equality of the cli ' mate, are flightly roofed, as they are built low and of light materials, to avoid the con- fequences of earthquakes, frequent and dread- ful in this country. But they are elegantly plaiftered and painted on the outiide, fo ^is to have all the appearance of freeftone. To add to the beauty and convenience of this ci^y, moft houfes have a garden, watered by cuts drawn from the river 5 each man commands a little running ftream for his own ufe ; in a hot and dry country as this is^ no fniall mat*- ter of convenience and delight. Here i^ a grand walk by the river-fide two hundred fa- thom long, confiding of five rows of fine orange trees. To this the company reforts at five in the evening drawn in their coaches and cak(hes *. Such is the opulence of this city, that, exclufive of coaches, there are kept in it upwards of five thoufand of thefe carriages. ■"^^^^^''^■^ ''i^^*i^'^''*^' '<'■'" y^"^^^-
'^"'^Lima has fifty-four churches, taking in the CLthedral, the parochial, and conventual j thirteen monaderies of men, (befides fix col- leges of jefuits) one of which contains feven hundred, and another five hundred friars and fervants j twelve nunneries, the principal of :r"''\'^'"V^ '•''■■''■• "S 3 ■■•-"■' -■•'=; which
* The calaih refembles that fort of coach which is called a Vis a Vis, bt)t is drawn only by a Hngle horfe or niHle, and goes on a finglt pair :>i wheels ; yet fometimes by the gilding and other decorations the price of a calafh amounts to a thgu- (and crQwns*
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which has not lefs than three hundred auns ^ ^nd twelve hofpitals, befides fav^ndatioas for the portioning of poor girls. The nmtnber of whites is pot left tban 1 0,000 ; ajftd the whole of the inhabitant? of ?U cafts and co- lours are faid not to fall fl\ort of 6o,oqo fouls* They tell a very remarkable h&.y that may help us to fome idea of the vaft wealth of this city. When thdr viceroy the duke de la Palata made his public entry in 1682, they caufed two of the principal ftreets to be paved with ingots of iilver, that had paid the' fifth to the king, of between twelve and fifteen pches long, four or hvc in breath, and twQ or three in thicknefs ; the whole of whic^^ could npt amount to lefs than fixteeen or fe- venteen millions fterling. But nothing can give a true idea of the vaft wealth of Lima, except the churches, which the moft judici- ous travellers fpeak of with aftoniflimcnt ; and feern incapable of defcribing, on account of that amazing profufion of gold, filvcr, and precious ftones with which every thing (evei> the walls) is in a manner totally covered. The tide of this vaft wealth is fed from fources a^ fcopious ; this city being the great magazine for almoft all the plate of Peru, which is coined here j for the large manufadures ar>d natural produdls of that kingdom j for thofe of Chili y iind for all the luxuries and conv(?niences bi ought frora Europe and the Eaft-Indics. ' ■ ' * ■ ' ■ ' ' The
Settlements in America. 263
The trade of the French to Peru, during fhe eeneral war in Europe which was caufed hj the difputes about the Spanifh fucceffion, made this city deca^ not a little by difFuung the commerce, of which before it was the centdfr, atnoheft the other towns which lie atong the coan ; Isut as that privilege has been £(nce taken away, Lima began to revive again, and continued iti great fplendor until the year 3747, when a moft tremendous earthquake, which entirely devoured Callao the port be- longing to it, laid three fourths of this city level with the ground. The dcftrudion of Callao was^ the moft perfedl and terrible that can be conceived ; no more than one of all the inhabitants efcaping, and he by a pro- vidence the moft lingular and extraordinary imaginable. This man was on the fort that overlooked the harbour, going to ftrike the flag, when he perceived the lea to retire to ji confiderable diftance ; and then fwelling mountain high, it returned with great vio-» lence. The inhabitants ran from their houfes in the utmoft terror and confufion j he heard a cry of tnifererc rife from all parts of the city ; and immediately all was filent \ the fea had' entirely overwhelmed this city, and bu- ried it for ever in its bofom ; but the fame wave which deftroyed the city, drove a little boat by the place where the man ftood, into which he threw himfelf and was favcd, What . . - S 4 ia
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on.
Settlements tn America. 265
/on, we cannot doubt but that a new city is already built there ; and that Lima is reftored ^o its former ludre ; efpecially as this latter is ^he center of fo vaft a trade, and the feat of fo great a government. For to the viceroy of Peru, both Chili and Terra Firma are fub- jedt. His fettled falary is 40,000 pieces of eight yearly ; his perquifites are great j as of- ten as he goes to Callao, he is intided to 3000 pieces of eight for that little airing y he has 10,000 for every progrefs into mo):e diftant
Earts J he has the fole difpofal of 4bove a undred great magiftraqes ; ap/j, in fhbrt, the granting of all triennial employments both ci- vil and military throughput the extent b^ hi§ ample jurifdiftion. It cannot therefore be doubted that his perquifites, even his lawful one§, (for tl^ere are many others) af l^gft double the value of his falary. And certain- ly, whatever the king of Sprain may lofc by the bad oeconomy in his affairs, no prince in the world has fuch means of rewarding the fervices of his fubje<5ts, without any imme- diate burthen upon his own revenues.
Cufco, the capital of the ancient erhpire, is ftjU a very confiderable city ; it is at a good diftance from the fea, and fituated in the mountainous part of the country ; it has not lefs than forty thoufand inhabitants, three parts Indians, who are very induftrious and ingenious. Though little inftrudled in the
art.
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;266 An Account of the European art, a tafle for painting prevails, and fome performances of the Indians of Cufco and Quito have met with applaufe in Italy, An incredible quantity of pidtures are painted here, and are difperfed all over Peru and Chkti. They have heie iikewife, manufadtores of bays and cotton, and they work largely in leather in moA of the ways in which it is ufed.
Qu^to is likewife an inland town, iituated in the moft Northern part of Peru 5 it is a very confiderable place, and equal to any in Peru for the number of inhabitants, which are between fifty and fixty thoufand ; and it carries on a very extenfive trade with Lima, in manufadures of wool, cotton, and flax, which are wrought in the city and its diftrid, and fupply the greater part of the confump- tion of the poorer fort all over this kingdom. Few mines are worked in this diftridt, the' thought to abound in minerals ; they receive plate in return for their own manufadures, and fend it to Carthagena in return for thofe of Europe.
It is not eafy to calculate the number of in-* habitants in Peru, becaufe we have none of thofe dat^ which are necefTary to ground fuch a calculation. There are feveral very large and populous towns difperfed through that ?.ountry j but in many places it is little better than a defart j p?irtly for want of water, but
much
Settlements in America. 267
much more generally through the pride of pne p^rt of the people, the miferable fubjec- tion of the other, and the floth of all. The mines undoubtedly contribute largely to depo- pulate the country^ by turning the inhabitants frx9|m agfficultqre and manufacbures, eoiploy- ments that prolong life and provide for it, to the working of metals extremely perniciou§ to health, and which makes them deper^d upon others for their necei&ry fuftenance. The nations which are poor in refpe^t of gold, and induftrious from that poverty, have not the leaft reafon to envy the wealth of th^ Peruvians ; who, amidil all that extravagant glare that dazzlps the eye, live penurioufljj and fordidly ; and are often, in extreme wan^ in a country, which in many places is one of the moft fertile in the world. Iti fa6l:, the countries which employ their men in arts and in agriculture, and receive their return in gold and (liver from the countries which abound in thofe metals, may be confidered as the real proprietors of the mines ; the immediate pof- (effors, only as their ftewards to manage, or as their flaves to work them ; whilft they are employed themfelves only at an eafy labour, friendly to life, and neceffary to their welK jjein^^
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CHAP. XII.
Tie temperature of the air in Chili, The foil,
1' Its fertility. A defcription of the principal
toivns. The trade of Chili.
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IMmedlately to the Southward of Peru lies Chili, extending itfelf in a long narrow flip, along the coaft of the South-Sea, in the South temperate zone. The air here is re^ markably clear and ferene. Scarce any changes happen for three parts of the year. Very little rain fa|is during that period. But the benign dews ^^trj night, and the many rivu- lets which the neighbourhood of the Andes fupplies them, ferdize the plain country, and make it produce as much corn, wine» oil, and fruits, as the number of the inhabitants, which is very fmall, or their induftry, which is but moderate, will fufFer them to cultivate. If it were under a more favourable govern- ment, and better peopled, there is hardly any part of the world which could enter into competition with this. For at the fame time that it enjoys ^ very healthful air, and is warmed by an heat no way oppreP^ve, it bears many of the tropical fruits that would thrive no where clfe out of the torrid zone. It is luxuriant on the furface with every thing for profit a|i4 delight % and beneath it is rich to
profufion
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Settlements in America; '269
profufion with veins of gold, filver, copper^ lead, quickfilver, and irori. Thofe of gold are the mofl wrought j and Indeed there is fcarcc a rivulet in the country in which gold is not found in fmaller or greater plenty j but want of people, which is here more felt thait j!i the other Spanifti fettlements, hinders them from working all their mines; and what is worfe, from improving the furface of theJt country to any thing like the degree of per-" feftion to which it might be brought. For in this whole txtent of country, upwards of twelve hundred miles in length, and from three hundred to five hundred miles in breadth, it is not reckoned they have much above twenty thoufand whites fit to bear arms, and about three times that number of Indians, blacks, and mulattoes. Yet with fo few hands, and thofe not the moft induftrious, they export annually from the ports of Chili, to Callao, and other parts of Peru, corn enough to fup- port fixty thoufand men, for no country in the world is more prolific in grain of every fpecies; they export befides great quantities of wine ; hemp, (which is raifed in ao other part on the South-Seas,) hides, tallow, and falted provifions 5 to fay nothing of the gold, and other minerals, which form their principal wealth. The people are much employed in pafturage; and cattle are here in fuch plenty,
that an ox fatted may be .had for four dollars ;
;'.'t c?.:^/. ;■;.; ■' v^-.i ':■■'■■ a great
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a great proof" of the fertility of ^ country wh^te there is no fcarcity of money. But as tJbey have a confiderable trade ir^ dried and felted beef, hipesV and tallow, they conftantjy dVive gfeat rfumpers of horned catde from the other lid^e or tHe Andes,* from ^c province of ^ucuman in Paraguay. Chili has hut a' very few beafts of prey, and thole timor9us y ana altfedugfi toads, fnakes, and fcor^ons, are here as Numerous as in othef hot CQtin- tries,r thejK are found eAtirely harmlqs,
"there ^c m CHili four towns of fomt note, either o^ the fea,; Or near it ^ ^ St. Jago wpich is the capitalf, and contains about 4poq fami- lies, La»Conceptk)n, Qocjuimbo or ^a Serena^ and Bartiivia. The three lirft of thefe towns aire laid^out' in a manner cxa<Sfy rei^qn\blingr each other,t the ftreets, like thofc of Liipfi; cuttihg one another fo as to forna fijuares like thofe of a draft board, X^^Y have ali gar* defts between the houfe^^ and running waters drav/n from the neighbouring rivers Co ferti- li^9 ^hern J biit the hotifes are fo low/and meanly built', (mud Walls, and thatch ^ii;i ibme, ) that they rather refemble ft greeabler country villages than cities of bitfjnefs ' and grandeur. However, fon>e of the hoijfes are \vcli furniflied, and it is faid, that in St.Jagp tneie are many, which have the meaneft utenfils'of the kitchen, of gold and filver. As for Baldivia, it is not more remarkable for
being
Setti<em£nts in America! 271
being the ftrongeft fortrefs in the South-Seas, than for the manner in which it is peopled j fpr hither the criminals from Peru and the other parts of Chili are'tranfported, either for a time» or for life,^ and opUged to labpur. upon the fortifications and other public wo^ks* Wh^it is Bngalar, thefe criminals are at o^ce the prifoners and the jailors j for the garrifonr of the place, the whole corps, foldiers andj pfHcers, is formed of no other. The town> contains about twa thoufand fouls, and all of them banffh^d, people, or the defcendantsjojf
The maritime trade of Chili is entirely con-^ fined to what they carry on with Peru, one or. tvro ports of New Spain, and Panama* Their (hips rarely penetrate the ftraits of Ma-, gellan,. or pafs Cape Horn. But they have a cpnfide^'able inland commerce with Tucu^- ip'ao, Buenps-Ayres, and other parts of Pa- raguay^ from wich they get tte herb of Pa-, raguay,, boes-wax^.. and cattle.
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JDiitch pnce attempted an eftablifliment hei;ey «nd that other people have nouriOied projedts t)f the fame nature, they are extremely cau-i jdous and watchful on the coaft, and the country is imme4iately in afma upon every alarm, virhieh is giveil wh^n antjr ifaip appears off the coad that is not of Spanish nuUt. t^et, notvirithftanding all thdi^eaution, their fecurity is rather ov^ring to the fyftem of Eu- rope, of which it is a part to keep the Spa- nifli poffeffions in thd hands of the prefcnt proprietors, and to the difficult and danger- ous pjiffage of the ftraits of Magellan or Cape Horn, for any European armament of fdrce, than either to their own ftrength or vigilance. >f The Indian inhabit^mts of Chili are i bfave and warlike people, who defended their liber- ties vigoroufly, made fevt^al fucc^fsful infur- redtions, kiHed Peter Baldivia the conqueror of the country, and maintained a war againift the whole Spanifti power in that part of the world for fcveral years ; which was only fer-' minated on the part of feveral of thd nations near the mountains, by an honourable peace, which is prcfervcd to this day. i^one can be more jealoufly watchful than this people of their freedom. They traffic indeed with the Spaniards, bcit with fo'muth caution, and un- der limitatioas fo ftri^, that they can take very little advantage of this communication. As for thgfe who are obliged to fubmjt, it is
to
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iiw
\, d l-fcf W •* T'"
SicrrtEiviENts in America^" 273
td a yoke nothing near To heavy as that which opprcffes the people who inhabit the other Spaaifh provinces ; partly from the better terms which were procured ; and partly from the fear of a nation, whom they haveexpe* rienaed to be brat^c^ arid know tot be Oirround-* ed with many, who are of the fame blood, and have defertded their frecjdom with better fuccefs. A good example, even in the un- f6ttunatc, how much a brave defence of U-* berty|iiay< contribute to procure, if nothing elfe, yet a more tolerable lervitude. .Thtjn- dians of this Country have more refemblancc to thbfe of North America, though more hu* mane ^nd civilizjed iri their manners, nhan to the Peruvians and Mex5i(tans. Here they have lefs fttperflicion naturally i and far from having that exctffive veneration, vvhich' thofe na- tions bad for thetr kings, they have no kings at alii and very little form of government j iMich family being foveretgn within itfelf, and independent. The buiinefs which concerns^ them ftUy is tranfadted in the aiTemblies of all i and the plurality of voices decides. They arc much given to liquor j and they pradtife po-^ lygamy, which in America is not common. However, the Spanifli miffionaries have now made a confiderable progrefs amongf* thefe free nations ; they have a college for the edu- cation of the Indian youth ; and their influence is a great means of preferving peace betwu^en ., Vol. I. T |Hc
%fs
f At.' .
the Spanifli fettleaients and the fre« In,dmR| qn their borders, which, without thcii?.aflift-' «nce, would be. difficult. For though they liftcn lo tb^ Spanifli priefts, Aey pfoferve si very jtril terror of falling under their goveriH tnent^ and nofmall hatred to th€ people, ^^i;
■2sm3tiiiiti7? :C H A p. XIV- "-^-'^^ff^^'i^ ^
Ithe clifHate cf Paraguay. Its rhers^ TO/ -,:■ frxfoince of La Plata* llhe town of Buerw^ ci ^res. Its tradi, ■■ ^ uku.:.ij..i^ ^^'^vu^k^i^
rir^HE! country of f^aragdayj or La Pkte^ t.;^i: fhuts up the Eaftern fide of a confide* l^blc part of Chili and Peru j whence extend* ing over a tradt of countryi above a thoufand miles broad, it bounds Bra:&il upon the Wcft^ and upon the South butts upom tha Atlantic ocean ^ being fifteen hundred nriles at le^A ift length, ffora Jhe mouth of the great rrv«r jHata to it& Northern boundary the country of the Amazons. This vaft territory ii hi from being ivholly fubdued or planted by th« Spaniards. There are many parts in a^reat degree unknown to them^ or to any othcfc' Ipeoplc of Europe. In fueh a Yaft country, and lying in climates fo different, for k lies tJn the Northern frontier under the equinoc*- lAsl line, and on the South advances to the tbirty-feventh degree of latitude, far into the
sU
IBouth
SETTIiEMENTS in AMEftldAi 2!f§
St«th temperate zone, we muft expe<!3: tcr mt'f^ great di verity of foil and prodiid:. xiow** evtft", in g^fieral this great country is fertrteff the paftures particularly are (a rich^ that thry 2X^4i(w^vtA with tnnum^srabte herds of tdacfc cattle, h<wfcs ^ndt *iA*tes ; ia wiikh hacdty any body thinks it worth his whiic to claim a' property. Aay pe^fott tSakes and breaks them -afeo^ding to his t>ccafions.!J*Cir' ^ '^^ >* :«f5 -^^his cio^ntry, beft^s afn infinite number of f^iadter Tiv^V*,'" i^ W^ene^ biy thjrec princi-. pal ^66, which tmite near the fea, to form the famous Rio de la Phta. The firft is Pa-» ra^ay, from wi)e«ce the co^intry is djencmiii* naited j this forms the ihain channel. It has^ ife origin from a great lake in the centt* of South America, called the kkc of Xarayesi- arfid rlifls in a eourle wearty North and Souths Fir-ana, 'wrhkh rifes amongft the mountains oA'the froprtiers of Brazil, runs a floping G^Hirfe to the South- Weil, until it joins the Pa^'aguay at a great difVance from the oceaa about the twenty-feventh degree of Soutk kfeitude. Uraguay rifes likewife upon the fkriie (ide, and runs almoin an equal courfc before it meets thofe united rivers at no great diftance from the ocean, with which it mixes, along with them. .'^ '.^-.yv. :^y**.
' The principal province vrhich concerns us ill thrs vaft trad:, is that \vhkh is called Rio de la' Plata, towards the mouth of tlie above- ^ni^'^rn^/' T 2 mentioned
ffiS
.-;* ^i. ii. Jf! .-'■■■- i^ A '^
V
276 A/I Account of the Europeam
mtntioned rivers. This province, with all the adjacent parts, is one continued levels inter- rupted by not the leaft hill for feveral hun** dredi of miles every way 3 extremely fertile in moAr things ; but contrary to the general nature of America, deftitute of woods; this want they endeavour to fupply by plantations^ of every kind of firuit tr^es j all which thrive here to admiration. The air is remarkably fweet and ferene, and the waters of die great river are equally pure and wholfome^ thev annually overflow their banks ; and on their recefs, leave them enriched with a flime^^ which produces the greateft plenty of what** ever is committed to it. ivThe principal town is Buenos-^ Ayted^ the South fide of the river ; it was fo called upon account of the excellence of the air. This town is the only place of trafHc-to the Southward of Brazil j yet its trade, confix dering the rich and extenfive country to which it is the avenue, is very inconfiderable. N<y regular fleet comes here, as to the other parts of Spanifh America j two, or at moft three regifier fhips, make the whole of their regu- lar intercourfe with Europe. Their returns are very valuable, confifling chiefly of gold, 5lver, fugar and hides. 1 cannot learn that tliey have opened any confiderable mines in this province; but it is probable there are rich ones in the provinces, which lie to the luia, ;;- Euftward
u
'<,!!.
*' -*
Settlements in America*.- 277
Eailward of the Andes ; befides it Is certaia that a good deal of gold is returned from Chili, for the mules, cattle and tea which arc &nt thither s and that filver from the province of Los Charcas in Peru is fent upon the fame gc<^ount» for the mod part by land carriage^ Tbe^ is , befides a tolerable water carriage ; for a large river, called Pilcomayo, rifts not i^ frona the mines of Potofi, which winding ampfigfl (be openings of the Cordillera, dif- €Jbaige|s itfelf at laft into the Paraguay ; and this river is navigable to the very fource, al*- lowing for the intermption of Tome falls^ which is the cafe of the river of Plate itfelf. By this way it is, I judge, that a great quan- tity of filver comes to Buenos- Ay res. In* deed it is in great plenty in that province ; and thofe who have now and then carried oq a counterband tr«?de to this country, have found it far more advantageous than any other >yhatfoever. The benefit of this counterband h now wholly in the hands of the Portuguefe, who keep magazines for that purpofe in th« adjacent parts of Braz;il»
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{578 ^/^ Account 0/ /i^ European
C H A P; XV. ''H^'J'' y':''-
yie terriiOry oftbejefuits in Paraguay, Their manner of fettling and governing it, Th^ obedience of the people. Som^ refiefiiqm,^
X the late tranfa^ions there, ^ , ; , ^ . T/ y iV'^^
TH E trade of Paraguay, and the hianf- ners of the people, are fo much the fame with thofe of the reft of the Spani(h colonies in South America, that nothing fur- |:her can be faid on thofc articles ; but it would be inexcufable to quit the country "without faying fomething of that extraorr fiinary fpecies of commonwealth which the jefuits have erected in the interior parts. ,>-
About the middle of the laft century thofe fathers reprefented to the court of Madrid, that their want of fuccefs in their tniffions was ovying to the fcandal which the immo- plity of the Spaniards never failed to give, and to the tiatred which their infoknt bcha- viour paufed in the Indians wherever they came. They infinuatcd, that if it weke not ifor that impediment, the empire of the gofpei might, by their labours, have been extende4 into the vn^^^ unknown parts of America ; and that all thofe countries might be fubdued fo his catholic mjjefly's obedience without ex- pence and without force. This remonftrance
i.
Settlements /;; America. tyg
was liftened to with attention ; the fphere of their labours was marked out ; an uncon^ trculed liberty was given to the jcfuits with- in thcfe limits j and the governors of the ad- jacent provinces had orders not to interfere, nor to fu£Fer any Spaniard to enter into this pale without licence from the fathers. They on their part agreed, to pv ^ a certain capita* tion tax in proportion to their flock ; arA to fend a certain number to the king s works whenever they (hould be demanded, and the miiHons Should become populous enough to fupply them, .Mir ^i^rJ,f ^ ? ^ * ;.
VI. On thefc terms the jefuits entered upon the fcene of adion, and opened their fpiritual campaign. They began by gathering toge- ther about fifty wandering families, whom they perfuadcd to fettle j and they united them into a little townfiiip. This was the flight foundation upon which they have built a fuperftrudlure, which has amazed the world, and added fo much power, at the fame time that it has brought fo much envy and jealoufy on their fociety. For when they had made thk beginning, they laboured with fuch inde- fatigable pains, and with fuch maflerly policy, that, by degrees, they mollified the minds of the tnoA favage nations ; fixed the mod ram- bling J and fubdued thq moft averfe to govern- ment. They prevailed upon thoufands of va- rious diipprfcd toribe;s of people to embrace --'^' - T 4 ^ thQir
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:ii3
:£8o jin Account of the European
their religion, and to fiibmit to their govern^ rrient ; and when they had fubmitted, the jefuits left nothing undone, that could conduce m their remaining in this fubjedion^ orthat <i:ould tend to increafe their ntimber ta the ^grec rcquifite for a well-ordered and potent fociety ; and their laboars were attendied with "iui^Ctk, ■■■-■ ■■ ''- -^' ?-'^''' h^^i-:yn:l f It is faidj that from fuch inconfltferatc^&- glnnings, feveral years ago, their fob}e<flfS' a- mounted to three hundred thoufand families. They lived in towns; they were rcgulady clad i they laboured in agriculture ; they cxr crcifed manufa^tufes. Some even afpired to the dlegant arts. They were inftru<5lcd in the military with the moil exad discipline ; und could raife ihcty thoufand men well armed. To effedl thefe purpofes, from time to time they brought over from Europe feve- ral handicraftmen, muiicians, and painters. Thefe, I am told, were principally from Ger- 'v many and Italy. ' -'"'vM ,r'^''^"-wai b*i£:fe^u • "*' We are far from being able to trace with 1 the exadlnefs they deferve, all the ileps which * -were taken in the accomplifhtDent of fo exi- " traordinary a conqucft over the bpdies and " mimds of fo many people, without arms or ' -violence; and differently from the methods x^f all oihcr conquefis ; not by cutting off a c large part of the inhabitants to iecure the rpitj but by multiplying -th«irp<lople,wh4lft
they
7*
SBfTTtEMENTS in AMERICA.' 28|
they extended ehciif territof y. Their own ^^ counts are not very ample ; and they are pasr tial:lcr themfclves without doubt. What fotne odiers have written is with a>glaring ipi^ jfiidice againft them. The particulars which feem heft ^reed upon by both fides, ared^ only ones lo be mentionai. h"^- b^r r^' ''Jt It is agreed then, that in each miffion or diftf idt (the country Is divided into fdrty-feven diflri(5ts) a jefuit prefides in chief. But ma- giftrates are fetded in every town anfwecable to thofe in the Spani(h cities; thefp arc d- ways Indians, cledl:ed by the people, and ap- proved bythe prcfidingjefiiit: on folcpin oc- calions they appear in rich robes of ceremony, attended with a fuitable reirinuej and every thing which may make for the dignity of their government. The people which com- pofe this commonwealth are compofed chiefly of two nations or tcibes, one called Garanies, the other Chiquitos. The latter are active, lively and ingenious, therefore their ceconomy is more left to themfclves; and they have fometbing of property, but there is fomething too in common. Amongil the Garanies there is no property ; every thing is done under the public eye, and for the public ; for otherwifc this people, naturally lazy and ftupid to the laft degree, would be in perpetual want. Each man's labour is allotted him in proportion to jiis ftrength^ or to bis |kiU in the profefiion ik^ I ^ whicl^
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aSt An AcecWTNT of the European wliich he exercifissi The produdt is brought faitJifuUy into the ptiblic magazines; from whence he is sigain Aipplied with all things which the mana^rs judge to be expedient fop'tbe fuftcnaace of himfelf or his family, 4rll occeflkrics arc diftributcd regularly twice a week ; and the magazines always contain £ich a fiock of provifions and goods of every kiodi as to anfwer Jiot only the ordinary cxi* gei&cies, but fp provide againft a time of fearer city, or for thofe whom accidents, age, or in- firmities, have difqualiiied for labour. Thus want is never known amongft them; their villages are cleanly and decent, greatly ex<^ ceeding thofe of the Spaniards in their ncigh^ip bourhood. Their churches are particularly grand and richly adorned ; and fervice is in them performed with all the folemnity and magnificence of cathedrals ; nor are good voices and inftruments wanting, )»,4ffi^;irri/t./'t* /! They provide early for the marriage of their yourrg people, as well to prevent difor-^ dcrs, as to multiply th^ir fubjedts. Here, as intcrefl can be no motive to the union, there are few difficulties attending it. i The young man applies to the governing jefuit, informs him of his defire of marriage, and names thp party : ihe is confuhed, and if there is no ob- jedion upon her paHt, they are immediately <narried. They are fuppli^ with all neccf- ' ik»e8&r their eflablUhmeot frooi the public $x^%-^- ftorcsj,
"■BBPP"
Settlemehts m America.' 283
fiionsj and they have at the fame time theif ^afk allotted them, by which they are to mak$ am^tids for what they have received, and to provide for others in their turn^ 4*^ M^f^^i jr^i* J The Indian magiftrate is oUiged continuallj to wfttch 6ver the minuteft anions of hit people, and to give the jcfuit ^n exadt account of th^ ftate of hi* diftrift, asd the merit and demerit of the people which it contains. Tlicy are rewarded or puniihed apcofding to thn report. Tbepunjftment for fmaller crimes f^ by imprifonment, for g«* jater by whipping^ from whic'h it is fatd not even the principal magidrate^ are es^empted. Capital punifh* p?itnU they do not ]nfli<5b, as indeed crimes deferving fucih punifhment are rarely com-* Ifiitted amongft them. The trorrcdtton is re* Reived by all, not only with patience, but ac- knowledgment. The revvards are feldom piore than benediftions, and fome flight marks of the jefuits favour, which make thofe men prttirely happy, -'^-/iiii^^. -^8>- ;>Wt?ti^r "t^m-'-^yr ^ 'Um-\
*' Nothing can equal the obedience of the people of thcfe millions, except their con- tenuT«erit under it. Fat from murmuring, that they have only the neceflkries of life, by a labour which might in fdme degree procure them the convcniencies of ^ it, they think tfeicmfelves a diftinguiihed and favoured peo^ pie Jtx wanting them ;. and they believe t^ei» fibedieoce a duty, that nof only ftcure^ theii
:r;tv;v Prdcr
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284 ^ Account of the European ordtf and rcpofc in this world, but the very feeft means of infuring their happinefs in the liext. This is carefully inculcated ; and in- deed befides their attention to the govern- miilit^* the jefuits are indefatigable in their in- ftni^Hons in the dodlrines of religion, the re- gttkrity of life, and the contempt of thit world. And by what I can find, the Indians under their jurifdidion are an innocent people, cr^ilized without being corrupted. ^. A The jefuits who govern thfem, iii'e iaicl to bo extremely ftrid: in preferving their privilege in keeping all ftrangers from amongft them. If anyfuch (hbuld by accident, or in his jpur^ ney, arrive in the country of the miflion;, he is immediately carried to the prefbytery, where he is treated for a day, or two at moft, with great hofpitality, but regarded with no lefs circiimipedlion. The curiofities of the place are (hewed him in company with the jefuit, and he can have no private converfation with any of the natives. In a reafonable time he IS civilly difmifled, with a guard to condu(ft him to the next djftridt, without expepce, where he is treatedin the fame manner, until he is out of the country of the miflions. Cau^ tions altogether as ftri^, and in the fame fpirit, are dbferved, when the natives are obliged tq gaout of their own territory to fcrve in the king's works, or when any part of their troops l^re cs^kd out for his fervice, They (hun all
> « <-V'
mannei:
,. Settlements /» AMERicAr 285
manner of con verfation with ftrangcrs, upom whom they look with a fort of horror j and fo return, uninformed and .untainted,, intm their own country as they left it, ,. . ^j sh I am fenfible, that thany have ccpr^fent^ the conduct of the jefuits in this million in a^ very bad light; but their reflexions ^pp0ai^tp> me not at all fupported by the fads upcar which they build them. To judge perfeSly of the fervice they have done their pec^ep we muA not confider them in a parallel with the flbdrifhing nations of Europe, but as com^* pared with their neighbours, the favages ^ South America, or with the ftate of thofe In4 dians yvhp groan under the Spaniib yoke)^- Confidering it in this, which is, the true Ughtjl it Will appear, that human focicty is, infinitely obliged to thejn for adding to it three hundred thoufand families in a well-regulated 1 comri* mui4ty> in the room of a few vagabond unA.. taught favageSt And indeed, it can fcarce be conceivpd, that the governn\ent has not fome? extraordinary perfedion, which has a prin- ciple of increafe within it, which draws others to uqite themfelves to the old ilock^ atvd ihoots out itfelf a luxuriance of new bra,nches» Neither can ive, by any means, blait>e a fyftem which produces fuch faltitary effects > and which has found that difficult, bat happy way, that grand defideratum in politics, of uniting a pcrfed fubjedlion, to an entire con^
%
iv^ilQiitU
tent
II;
I' It
«86 An AccoitNT of the Europban
tent and fatisfadion of the people. Mattewy which, it were to be wiihed, were ftudicd with more attention by us, who content our- felves with railing at the diligence of an ad- Verfary, which we fhoidd rather praife and imitate ; and who in our affairs feldom think of uiing any other inftruments than force or
money. ^' '^'"^ -' ■'"" 0'fr-:.i '^i; ■rnjv'r?^-
This commonwealth has lately become d fubjed: of -much converfation, upon acctjunt of the ceffifon which has lately been made of par! of that territory to the crown of Portu- gal. It is well known, that th« inhabitants of feven of the miffions refufed to* toriiply with this ^iivifion, or to (ufFer themfeives ta be transferred from one hand to anpther, like cattle, wiehortirt their own confent *. We are informed by the authority of the gazette, that the Indiai^s adualiy took up arms ; but BOtwith(laodi«g the exadtnefs of their dtfci^ pline, they were eafily, and with a co^fi- derable (laughter, defeated by the European troops, who were fent to quell them. It feems to have been ill-judged in this people, who had never fecn any real fervice, nor were headed by officers who had fesen any, without which the beft difcipline is but a fort of play, to have hazarded a battle with troops
■Vrf^l r^l/*/
^ * The jefults have been entirely difgraced at t>e court of
Portugal, for th« Ihare they are faid to have had in this re» iiilatrce.
SETTL^iiEiJts in AMfiftfcA.' 287
from Europe. They ought rathei; to bavo firft habituated themfelTes to adion by atj* tacking fmall partic^y by^ciudng off convoys^ by little furprizos, until by uie and fuccef&ui fmaller matters, they wer« indtl^d to haizard the fum of their affairs in '• the open ^eiid; However, it is not improbable, that thle op* pofition will roufe the indolence of the Spa- niards, and nlake them talid the government of the country out of the hands it is in at prefent. If t^ey do, it is not difficult to fbrcr fee, that the fame dcpopyktiojii the fame di^ iirefs, and the fame difcontenty which diftin- guifhes the Indians in tb© reil of the Spani(h provinces, will be k)on equally vifible in this. Itr will not be difficult for them to- efi5b6l the reduction of this country 5 for the jefuits have tbo kfge and valuabde an intereft in Old Spain, as well as in the new world, to difpute k with the Court, whenever they fhall de- mand in good eameft to have this countiy furrendertd 5 if it be true, that the jefuits bave really fuch influence o^ the inhabitants as is attributed to tbcmu ^*^ or I'r h. ri f .. y i It was not originally foch bad policy, as k ttiay feem, to have intrufted the jefuits wkk fo great a power j fincc a little time will fticw, that they have given them a territory un- known, unpeopled, and uncultivated, which they have the certain means of rcpoiTcffing when ttc;y pkafe, fubdued, peopled, and
cultivated.
,1!' wl
afiS An Account of the EuropeAw cvikivated. As to its wealth, it is hard to JSi^ 4Uiy thing certain} thejefuits deny it. And Irnly, if they adtod with a perfe^ policy, ihcy would never have fuifered any mines of gold or filver to be opened in that country. Of this matter I have no information upon which I can depend. :u; i\s%:-f!ivMm <?fi»>.;^yfv»
(v*!l\»*ff«1 ^x^, C H A P< XVL* ■ ft r>-74in'i4>;
Tfrra Firma* Its extent and produce > The ^ cities of Panama p Carthagena^ and For to-- *^„bello. 1 he galleons. ThetJleofCuba. ^be n Havanna. Hifpaniola. For to Rico. Re^ . fieBions on the policy of Spain with regard to the colonies. fiu ,ju . ; I b.^ rUuiii^iHi'i>i
THE Spaniards have not niade any fetf tlements in the other divifions of South America, which they claim to the Southward of Buenos- Ayres, nor to the Northward^ exr c^t in Terra Firma, of which wc (hall fty fomething. The country of the Amazons, though prodigioufly large, wonderfully ferr tile, and watered by fo Doble a river, is al- moft entirely ncglcdted. The river of Ama- zons, called aUo Maranon, and Orellana, which waters and gives its name to this coun- try, arifing from the union of feveral flreams that fall from the Cordillera, runs acourfe of no lefs than uoo leagues j it flows for the . greater
^HWP
SRTTtEMENTS in AMERICA. 2^^
grdifcf part through a level country covered with the faireft and lofticft fbrefts h the worit^ In which it forms an iilnulmerable muhitude of delightful iflands ; and receiving on both fides the copious tribute of feverai rivers almoft equal to itfelf in greatnefs, in- creafing in breadth to a fort of fea, and to a depth which in fome parts has been in vain fearched with a line of upwards an hundred fathoms, it rufhes at length into the Atlantic ocean by two mouth" of an aftonifhing wide- ncfs, the principal being 45 leagues broad, the fmaller not lefs than twelve. The coun- try on this fine river has no other inhabitants than Indians, fome favage, fome united un- der Spanifh and Portuguefe mifiionariesv
The country of Patagonia is likewife of a Vaft ftretch to the Southward of Buenos- Ayres, all in the temperate zone, and extend- ed all along the Atlantic ocean. It is a plain country without trees ; but this is the caie of the delightful and fertile country of Buenos- Ayres. It is faid likewife to be barren and defart ; but what is certain, it is unfettled by any European nation, and little known, tho' it lies open for any power that can avail itfelf of a favourable opportunity to edablifh a co- lony there.
The laft province, accbrding to ^he ordef I have dbferved, though not of the leaft con- sequence in the Spani^ American dominions.
Vol. I. U i$
290 An Account of fi^ European is Terra Firma ; a vaft country, above aooq miles in length, and 500 broad. Bordering on Mexico, Peru, and Amazonia, it ftretche$ ill along tbc North fea, from the Pacific ocean to the mouth of the river of Ama-» zons upon the Atlantic. It i? divided into tv^'elve large provinces. They all contain a vaft deal of high and mountainous country, particularly the province of St Martha, where there are faid to be hills furpaffing TenerifFe itfelf in height ; thefe hills comrnunicate with the Andes. The valleys are deep ^nd nar- rovsr, and for a great part of the year flooded) but though Terra Firma is on the coaft, the moft unplcafant and moft unhealthful coun- try in the torrid zone, the plain grounds are extremely fertile ; produce corn enough, vs^hen cultivated \ all kinds of the tropica) fruits 1 rich drugs J cacao, vanilla, indigo, piemcnto, guaiacum, farfapariUa, and balfam of Peru, No country abounds more in rich and luxu-^ riant p^ftur^ge, or has a greater ftock of black (fatde. Their rivers have rich golden fands ; their coafts have good pearl fifheries j and their mines formerly yielded great quantities; of gold ; but at prefent they are negleded cr exbapfted ; fo that the pr'ncipal wealth of this kingdom arifes from the commerce of Carihagcn^ ; and what treafurc is f(?cn there, is moftly the return for European commodi- ties which are fent from that port to Santa-
M
Settlements m Amertca." 291"
fe, Popayaiv, and Quito : and rubrcs and cme-' raids are here fdund in plenty ; but the value of pcecicHis flones depending more on fancy thin thlatof gold or (ilver, this trade has con- fkkrably declined. u
" This province has a very confiderable fh^re of the trade of Europe ; not only on account of its own produce and demand, but becaufe all the intercourfe of Peru and Chili with Old* Spain is carried on through this country, for,' as wc have mentioned, Carthagena fupplies. Its capital city Panama is the great barcadier c F the South -Sea. Hither is brought all the trea- fure which the richmines of Peru and Chili pay to the king, or produce upon a private account,
^' The city of Panama is iituated upon one of the beft harbours in all refpc(fls, of the South-Seas. Ships of burthen lie fafe at fome diftance from the town ; but fmaller veffels come up to the walls. In this bay i» a pearl fifliery of great value. The town, one of the largeft in America, is faid to con- tain five thoufand houfes, elegantly built of brick and ftone, difpofcd in a femicircular form, and enlivened with the fpires and domes of feveral churches and monafteries. It is covered on the land fide with an a^rec- able country, diverfified with hills, valleys, and woods. The town ftands upon a dry hnd tolerably healthful ground, and has a great and profitable trade with Peru, Chili, and
U 2 the
■'■HI
,N!
Z92 Jn Account of the European the Wcftcrn coaft of Mexico, chiefly for provifions of every fort both of the animal and vegetable kinds j corn, wine, fugar, oil,*' with tallow, leather, and jefuits bark. In the neighbourhood of this city they raifc no- thing ; and yet, by traffic and their conve- nient fituation, there are few cities more abun>r dantly fupplied with all things for necefiity, convenience, or luxury. Their trade with the Terra Firma and with Europe is carried on over the ifthmus of Parien, and by tha river Chagra.
The fecond town of confideration in Terra
Firma, is Carthagena, which ftands upon a
peninfula, that enplofes olc of the fafcft and
beft defended harbours in ^11 the Spanifh
America. The town itfelf is well fortified,
and built after the elegant fafiiion of mofl of
the Spanifh American towns, with a fquare
in the middle, and ftrects running every way
regularly from it, and others cutting thefe at
right angles. This town has many rich
jchurches and convents 5 that of the jefuits is
particularly magnificent. Here it is that the
galleons on their voyage from Spain put in
Srft, and difpofc of a confiderable part of their
cargo ; which from hence is diflributed to
St. Martha, the Caraccas, Venezuela, and
moft of the other provinces and towns i^ the
'1 erra v itjXiOi, .^•'a-.^. y. ^i- ^j ,.■■; .^j ?*''>-^'*?> **-*j|h?'; ''•',
•r if ' ;-, ' ■ '
r>»ji.^4i . '.A.J .-
a,^
T.:-x
t/^^
• Set TtEMENTS tft AMJtRfcA, 295 "^^'he fleet which is called the galleons, con-^ iiAs of about eight men of watr, of about fifty guns each, defigned principally to fupply Peru With military ftores} but in reality, ladea hot only with thefc, but with every other kind of m6rehandize on a private account ; {o; as to be in bad condition fot defending them- felv^s^ or protecting others. Under the con- voy of thefe fail about twelve merckant fhips** not inferior m burthen. This fleet of the galleons is regulated in much the ^nie man« ner with the flotas, and it is deflined for the exclafive commerce of Terra Firma and the South-Sea, as the flota is for that of Mexico.
No fooner is this fleet arrived in the haven of Carthagena, than expreflfes are immcdiatel/ dtfpatched to Porto-bello, and to all the ad- jacent towns 5 bm principally to Panama 5 that they may get ready all the treafure which is depoflted there, to meet the galleons at Porto-bello i in which town, (remarkable for the goodnel-s of its harbour, which brings fuch a furprifihg concoirrfc here at the time of the fair, and the unwholfomfenefs of the air, which makes it a defart at all other times) all the perfons concerned in the vari- ous branches of this extenfive traffic aflfem- ble ; aiid there is certainly no part of the ^orld where bufinefs of fuch great importance h negociated in fo fliort a time. For in about a ibrtnight the fair is over; during which the
U J difplay
V
:ti
294 -^^ Account of the European difplay of the gold, filvdr, and precious flones, on the one hand, dnd of all thecsu^ rioiity and v^iety of the ingenibus fabrics iif Europe on the other^ is aftoni{lkiB^ Heapl of wedges and ingots of filver iare lOmbied about on the wharfs like common things. At this time an hundred crowns are given for a poor lodging, a thoufand for a {hop, and pro- yifion bf every kind is prdportionably dear j which may help us to 4dme ideli of the pro- fits made in this trade. Thetreafurc ife brought hither from Panama, by a very dalngerous road, upon mules. The other goods,. ^gar> tobacco, and drugs, are tranfpoited oil tht river Chagra. *-. d. ,,u .;. ..^^^^j,r^.u;^f;
When the galleons have taken in their tt- turns, they fteer together to the HavanM^ which is the place of rendezvous of all the ihips concerned in the Spanifh Americafn
trade. ^r:-v^ o~ '■i^'tr^ /njffrrrjvj^" *
The Havanna is the capital c?fy df the ifland of Cuba. It is fituated upo^ an ejt- ccllent harbour upon the Weftern extremity of the ifland. This city is large, containing not lefs than two thoufand houfes, with a number of churches and convents ; but then it ic the only place of confequeiice upon the noble ifland of Cuba, which lies in the lati^ tude 20, and extends from Eaft to Weft near I'even hundred miles in length, though in breadth it is difproportioned, being but from v'^ J one
Settlements /;; America. ^95 on6 hundred and twenty to fe^efity miles. However, it yields to no part of the Weft- Indies in the fertility of its foil, or in excels lericeof every thing which is produced in that climate. But the Spaniai*ds, bya feries of the moft inhuman and impolitic barbarities, having cxt^rtjiinated the original inhabitants 5 and not 'finding the quantities of , gold in the iflfthds which the continent afforded , they haye left this as w^qll as Hifpanipla ^ of which the French now poflefs the greater part, and Porto Rico, a large, excellent, and fertile iflatid, comparatiyely fo many defarfes. The Cottittjercc between thefe iflands, and ihe 8{5anifli continent, is carried on by the Barle- vento ^ieet, conftfting of fix fliips of goodj burthen ^nd force, who anhually make the tour of all thefe iflands, and the cbaft of Terrar' Firma, not only to carry on the co^in^crcei between thofe places, but to cliear the fea 6^ pirates and illicit traders. Now alid then a rcgii^bet ihip from Old Spain is bpund to one or othet of thefe iflatMis. Hitherto the Spa- niards feemcd rather to keep thetri, to prevent any otho: nation from growing too powerful ih thofe feas, than for any profit ihey expected tb derive from them. And it is certain, that if other nations (hoiild come entirely to pof- fefs the whole of the iilands^ the trade of the American continent, and perhaps the continent itfdf, would be entirely at their mercy. How-
U4
ever,
29l6 An Account e/" the European ever^ of late, the Spaniards have taken fomQrr fteps towards the better fettlement of Porto? . Rico. They are beginning to open the Arric- lican trade to fome other towns in Spain be< ^ fides Cadiz. They have made a difference in point of duty between their own manufafturesi ^ and thofe of foreigners. They are, in flaortj.; opening their eyes to the true intereft of their, ; country, and moving their hands^ though; i flowly, to promote it. . ^ , i i> m^^mi^v, Unto this time, the tide of wealth, that* conftantly flowed from America into Spaing' . ran through that kingdom like a hafty torrent,^: which, far from enriching the country, hur- ried away with it all the wealth which it founds' in its paflage. No country in Europe receivea. fuch vaft treafures as Spain. In no countr/r in Europe is feen fo little money. The^ trutb is, from the time that the Indies feU,intQ.tho hands of Spain, the affairs of that monarchyr have been conftantly going backward,. lUt America their fettlements were carried on' conformably to that genius, and to thpfe maxims, wnich prevailed in their government in Europe. No means of retaining their con-%^ quefls but by extirpating the people ; no fchemes for the advancement of trade ; no attempts at the reformation of abufes, which became venerable in proportion to the mif- chiefs they had fuffeicd by them. In govern-*
h.
.:!
*.t;ii-q i.u vi»>, jou^v,.-;*,. iM.:")^\r^
,,.^ment.
j. -t-^
Settjlemekts in America* 297 meat, tyranny > inreligioni bigotry^; in trade, monopoly. -r lvT ■ .^r-jir^
When the Spaniards found, to their am- bition which was boundlefs, that they had joined a treafure which was inexhauftible, they imagined there was nothing too vafl for them to compafs. They embraced a thoufand proje^s at once 3 many of them noble ones in theory9 but to be executed with different iq- flruments in different parts of the world, and all at a v^fl: expence of blood and treafure* The wars, which were the refult of thefc fchemes, and the Indies, which were to fup-* port them» were a continual drain, which car- ried off their people, and deflroyed all in- duftry in thofe who remained. The treafure which flowed in every year from the new world, found them in debt to every part of the old} for to the refl of their revenues they had forgot to add that, which is a great reve- venue itfelf, and the great fupport of all th« others, oeconomy. On the contrary, an ill order in their finances at home, and a de- vouring ufury abroad, fwallowed up all their treafure, whilft they multiplied the occafions for it. With the beft fcheming heads in Europe, they were every where outwitted j wiih the bravefl and beft difciplined troops, they were almoft always defeated j with the greatefl treafures, they were in want ; and ^cir armies were ill provided, and ill paid.
Their
hi
ill
HI
^9 -^ Account of tit EuMf^Atj
Thtir friends ^xh..ofted them by tt-ade ; thtJi' enemies by plunder. They faw net^ ibtes aHl€ bat of the fragments of thetr dominidds i <md new maritime powers ftart up froih the wrecks of their navy. In fhort, they -pro- voked, troubled, and enriched all Europe j iind at laft defifted through mere want of ftrength . They were inacflive, but not quiet j and they were cfnervated as much by their iazinefs during this repofe, is they h-ad bceh weakened before by their ill-judged adivityj • All this happened in a country, which abounded witii men of cjipacity as much als any ftate in Europe, and oftert with nnen of g**eat capacity fit its head. But <hcir talents took a wron^; tiim ; theif politic* were al*» ^^6 more abroad than at hotne ^ morfeicitt* pk^ed in weakeiiifig their neighbours, tha'rt in lengthening themfelves. They were wife in the concerns of foreign courts 5 thej^- were Mi^fied with being formal in their own do- iMcftic buiinefs. They ifelied too much upon their riches ; and the AVhole flatef,* bemg moulded into a fyflem of corf uption from the top to the bottom, things grew at iaft fo bad, that the evils themfelves became a fort of re- medies 5 and they felt fo feverely the confe- quences of their former conduct, that th^y have for fome years paft turned their thoughts m^ a very good channel ; and they may in time, and with perfeverance, rife again, whilft r-Tc. i others
Others (hall fall, by adopting the abufes which brought them to ruin. '^ ^'^ ?;innr:^
*s At pitsltnt thji iN5lkto jtf S^^ ' wlift '1^
gard to America, feem to be j to prefenre South America, and particularly the navigst- tion of the Soillth-Seiis, fis |liu(»i as poilible to themfelves 5 to deftroy efFedtually the counterband trade, and to encourage the ex- port of their ^wn maitufadurcs^ ' Of ui tjley have long ffiewn a remarfeable jealoufy ; a much greater than of the French, whom they fee xpaietly Xettling in the neighhrvurhood -of New Mexico 5 and who are growing certainly in the Weft-Indies in a rfar greater degree than we arc I (hall not pretend to account fothis diftte(^on«-'^v y^v vV\ ^^^ *'>vio:>^^ ^\K
h iI:n*>5f^vt^'^^- i^^i'* '-i^'^ Yi^v ci T
I
:;>i^;^i.^^a ^ tie Thir© F^ak^. h^tftm
Hp:^^^^b pdT .-^ir iu^-^ -moV'Tfr '-Pri^; ^inrl PbP^
.'.li
'l.iii!;
joo An AceouiiT of the fiuRoPUAi^
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PART JVi ■i--^>i;^^
ortuiuefe SettJem^iftSi'n
J .-
•*N
). 1'
- -."1 •'■■>,
. ., C-H A P. L-'ii!^^W'' -
jltt Account of the difcovery of StaziL 7bi method of fettling it. Conquered by the Dutch^ Reconquered by the Portuguefe.
A*
11* is very rare that any itfatcfriaj ^ifcdvery, whether in the ^fts, in philofophy, or ir^ navigation, has been owing to enorts made direSly for that particular purpofe, and detef-^ mined by the jferce of reafoniogs a fritri: The firft hints are owing to accident ; and difw coveries in one kind prefent themfelves volun- tarily to us, whilft we afe in fearch of v^hat^ flies from us in fome other. The difcovery of America by Columbus was o^ing originally to a juft reafoning on the figure of the earth }• (boiftgh the particular land he difcovered wais*
far
Settlements tn America. jot
far enough from that which he fought. Here was a mixture of wife defign and fortunate ac« client} butthe Portuguefe difcovery of Brazil may be confidered as merely accidental. For failing with a confiderabie armament to India, by the way of the Gape of Good Hope, but (landing out to fea to avoid the calms upon the coaft of Africa, the Portuguefe fleet fell in upon the continent of South Amer' :a. Upon their return they made fo favourable a report of the land they had difcovered, that the court refolvcd to fend a colony thither. And accordingly made their firft eflablifbment; but in a very bad method, in which it were to be wifhed they had never been imitated. This was by banifliing thither a number of crimi-*" nals of all kinds. This blended an evil dif- pofition with the firft principles of the colony, and made the fettlement infinitely difficult by the diforders infeparable from fuch people^ and the x>fFence which they gave tche origmal inhabitants. This fettlement met fome inter- ruption too from the court of Spain, who confidered the country as within their domi4; nions. However, matters were accommo^ dated by a treaty, in which it was agreed, that the Portuguefe ihould pofTefs all that trad of land that lies between the river Maranon, or of the Amazons, and the river Plate, r '
When their right was thus confirmed, the
Portuguefe purfucd the fettlement with great
■ y '- vigour.
/li
joz jin Account of the Eurofe a*
vigQdr. Large grants were made to thofc who were inclined to become advcntuiers'^ and almoil all the nobility of Portii^dl pro** cured interefls in a country which promifed fuch great advantages. The natimwereln moft parts fubdued, and the improveinenD of th© colony advanced apace. The crown in a little time becanfiO attentive to fo valuable an acquifition ; the government was new: mo* delled, many of the exorbitant grants recalled, and all things fettled upon fo advantageous a. footing, that the whole fea coaft, upwards of two thoufand miles, was in fame meafure fettled, to the honour of the induflrvand courage of the firft planters, and infinitely to the benefit of the mother-country. 'The Portuguefe conqucfts on the coaft of Africa forwarded this eftabli(hmcnt, by the number of negroes it afforded them for their works ; ^d this was the firft intrcdu^ion of negroes into America, of which at prefent they form a large part of the inhabitants. .1 -jl .
K.ln the very meridian of their pfofperity, when the Portuguefe were in pofTellion of fo extenfive an empire, and fo fiourifhing a trade in Africa, in Arabia, in India, in the ifles of Afia, and in one of the moft valuable parts of America, they were ftruck down by one of thofe incidents, that by one blow, in a critical time, decides the fate of kingdoms. Don Sebaftian, one of their greatcft prince*;
arc. ble
in
Setti-ements in America, 303,
invtt) expedition he had undertaken againft the Moors> loft his life $ and by that accident the Portugueie k^ their liberty, being db-^ forbed into the SpaniQi dominions. Ty, < ^^^M^ r Soon after this misfortune, the fame yoke that galled the Portuguefe, grew fo intolerable to the inhabitants of the Netherlands, that they threw it off with great fury and indigna* tiont Not fatisfied with erecting themfelves into an independent ftate, and Supporting their independency by a fuccefsful defenfive war, fluflied with the juvenile ardor of a growing coipnmonwealth, they purfued the Spaniards into the remoteft reccfles of their extenfive territories, and grew rich, powerful, and ter- rible, by the fpoils of their former mailers. Principally, they fell upon the poffeflions of the. Portuguefe j they took almoft all their fortrefies in the Eaft-Indies, not fufficiently defended by the inert policy of the court <» Spain J and then turned their arms upon Bra- zil, unproted:ed from Europe, and betrayed by tlie cowardice of the governor of the then principal city. And they would have overrun the whole, if Don Michael de Texeira, the archbiftiop, defcended from one of the no- bleft families in Portugal, and of a fpirit fu- perior to his birth, had not believed, that in £uch an emergency, the danger of his eoun- * try fuperfeded the common obligations of his profeffion . He took arms, and at the head •
of
II
J
h
t 4 ~
304 -^ Account of the European
pf his monks, and a few Scattered forcesi put 9 (lop to the torrent of the Dutch conqueft. He made a gallant Aand until fuccourt ar» rived ; and then refigned the commiffion with which the public necefTity and his own virtue bad armed him, into the hands of a perfon appointed by authority. By this iland he laved feven of the captainships, or provinces, out of fourteen, into which Brazil is divided; the red fell into the hands of the Dutch, who conquered and kept them with a bravery and conduft, which would deferve more ap- plaufe, if it had been governed by humanity.
The famous captain, prince Maurice of Naflau, was the perfon to whom the Dutch owed this conqueft, the eftablifhment of their colony there, and that advantageous peace which fecured them in it. But as it is the genius of all mercantile people to defire a fudden profit in all their defigns ; and as this colony was not under the immediate infpec- tion of the States, but fubjedt to the company called the Weft-India company, from prin- ciples narrowed up by avarice and mean no-* tions, th^y grudged that the prefent profits of the colony fhould be facrificed to its future fecurity. They found, that the prince kept qp more troops, and eredted more fortrefies, than they thought neceflary to their fafety ; and that he lived in a grander manner than llicy thought became one in tlieir fervice« :) They
y Settiements in America.^ 305' iThey imagined that a little offieial GBConomy .\n9& the principal quality neceffary to form a 'great conqueror and politic'an j and therefore rthey were highly difpleafed with their gover- -lior prince Maurice, whorti they treated in fuch a manner as obliged him to refign, uyt\ /Jr. Now their own fchemes took place. A reduction of the troops 5 the expence of for- . tifications favcd ; the charge of a court re-i trenched 5 the debts of the company ftridly *cxadcd ; their gains increafed cent per ccnt^ and every thing flourifhing according to their beft ideas of a Bourifhing ftate. But then, all Tthis fine fyftem in a fhort time ended in the I total lofs of all their capital, and the entire : fuin of the Weft-India company. The hearts i of fubjeds were loft by their penurious way :.of dealing, and the feverity of their proceed- ings. The enemy in their neighbourhood . was encouraged by the dcfencelefs ftate of their frontiers, and both operated in fuch a
- manner, that Brazil was reconquered by the Portuguefe j though after a ftruggle, in which the States exerted themfelves vigoroullyj but
i with that aggravated expence, and that ill ^ fucccfs, which always attends a late wifdom, rand the patching up a blundering fyftem of , condud:. A ftanding leiTon to thofe people ivho have the folly to imagine they confult ^-the happinefs of a nation, when by a pre-
- tended tendernefg for fome of its advantages, < Vol. I. X they
iti
!
u
if
3o6 An Account of the European they negledt the only things that can fupport it, the cultivating the good opinion of the people, and the keeping up a proper force.
ri
'.rj1> jrfM
G H A P. II.
'f^A ^
•■(»
'}\\\\
7 he climate of Brazil. Of the Brazil wood*
TH E name of Brazil was given to this country, becaufe it was obferved to abound with a wood of that name. It ex* tends all along a tradt of fine fea coaft upon the Atlantic ocean upwards of two thoufand miles, between the river of Amazons on the North, and that of Plate on the South. To the Northw^ard tho climate is uncertain, hot, boifterous, and unwholfome. The country^ both there, and even in more temperate parts,. is annually overflowed. But to the South- ward, beyond the tropic of Capricorn, and indeed a good way beyond it, there is no part of the world that enjoys a mc»re ferene and wholfome air ; refrefhed ^vith the foft breezes of the ocean on one hand, and the cooL breath of the mountains on the other. Hi- ther feveral aged people from Portugal retire* for their health, and protradt their lives to a long and eafy age. ,rf> «» r>, v
In general, the foil is extremely fruitful, and was found very fufiicient for the comfort- able. fuhGAence of the inhabitants! until the >,^. -.; y . mines
Settlemej*ts in America. 307
ihines of gold and diamonds were difcbvered. Thefe, with the fugar plantations, occupy fo many hands^ that agriculture lies neglected j and in confequence Brazil depends upon Europe for its daily bread.
The chief commodities which this country yields for a foreign market are, fugar, tobacco^ hides, indigo, ipecacuanha, balfam of Copaibo, and brazil wc^. The laft article, as rt in a more particular manner belong? to this coun- try, to which it gives its name, and which produces it in the greateft perfedtion, it is not amifs to allow a very little room to the de-« fcription of it. This tree generally flourifhes in rocky and fcjtrren grounds, in which it grows to a great height, and confiderablcJ thicknefs. But a man who judges of the quantity of the timber, by the thicknefs of the tree, will be much deceived 5 for upon ilripping off the bark, which makes a very large part of the plant, he will find from a tree as thick as his body, a log no more in compafs than his leg. This tree is generally crooked, and knotty like the hawthorn, with long branches, and a fmoolh green leaf, Bard, dry, and brittle. Thrice a year bunches of fmall. flowers flioot out at the extremities of the* Ranches, and between the leaves. Thefe flowers are of a bright red, and of a ftrong aromatic and refrcfhing fmell. The wOoji of this tree is of a red colour, hard and
X 2 dry.
^.Mn
■iHHIIIlll
308 y^ Account of the European
dry. It IS ufed chiefly in dying red, but not a red of the beft kind ; and it has fome place in medicine as a ftomachic and reftringent.
CHAP. III.
>'W.
7he trade of Brazil. Its intercourfe with Africa, ^he fettlement of the river Amazons ana ^io Janeiro, The gold* mines, . The commonwealth of the Paulifts, The diamond
finnes.
{li^,r,i-
^*.
^ J ^ H E trade of Brazil is very great, and J ^^ increafes every year. Nor is this a wonder > fince they have opportunities of fup- plying themfelves with flaves for their feveral works, at a much eafier and cheaper rate than any other European power, which has fettle- ments in America. For they are the only European nation which has taken the pkiins ta cflabiiih colonies in Africa, Thofe of the Portuguefe are very confiderable, both for their extent and the fiumbers of their inhabi- tants J and of courfe they have advantages in that trade which no other nation can have. For beiides their large eftablilhment on the Weftern fhore of Africa, they claim the whole coaft of Zanguebar on the Eaftern fide, which in part they poflefs j befides feveral other large territories, both on the coaft and in the coun- try J where feveral numerous nations acknow- ledge
i.,|W ii» uip« !-■ ,«,j.i|».ii»min|p
^PIP
Settlements /« America. 309 ledge themfelves their dependents or fubjedy. This is not only of great advantage to them, as it increafes their (hipping and feamen, and ilrengthens their commercial reputation, but «s it leaves them a large field for their flave trade ; without which, they could hardly ever fupply, upon any tolerable terms, their fetdc- jnents in Brazil, which carry off fuch num- •bers by the feverity of the works, and the un- wholfomenefs of fome part of the climate j aior could they otherwife extend their planta- tions, and open fo many new mines as they idoj to a degree which is aftonifhing. .1 own I have often been furprized, that our African traders fhould chufe fo contradted an object for their flave trade, which extends to little more than fome part of the Gold coaft, to Sierra Leone, and Gambia, and fome other inconfiderable ports j by which they have depreciated their own commodities, and itaifed the price of flaves within thefe few years above thirty per cent. Nor is it to be wondered j as in the tradt, in which they trade, they have many rivals ; the people are growa .too expert by the conftant habit of European conHncrce ; and the flaves in that part are in a good meafure exhaufl:ed j whereas, if fome of our yeflels paflTed the Cape of Good Hope, and tried what rnight be done in Madagafcar, or on thofe coafts which in^ deed the Portuguefe claim, but do not, nojr . w X 1 cannot
510 ^« AccouN-r o/ffo European
cannot hold, there is no doubt but that th^y would find the greater expence and length of time in palling the Cape, or the charge of li- cenced which might be procured from the Eaft-India company, amply compen fated. Our African trad© might then be confiderably en- larged, our own manufaiflures extended, and our colonies fupplied at an eafier rate than they are at prefent, or are likely to be for the future, whilft we confine ourfelves to two or three places, which we exhauft, and where we (hall find the market dearer every day. The Porfiiguefe from thefe fettlements, and this extenfive range, draw every year intQ Brazil between forty and fifty thoufand flaves. On this trade all their other depends, and therefore they take great care to have it w0ll fupplicd, for which purpofe the fituation of Brazil, nearer the coaft of Africa than any other part of America, is very convenient^ and it co-operates with the great advantages they derive from having colonies in both places.
Hence it is principally, that Brazil is the richefi:, tnoft flourifhing, and mod growing cftablifliment in all America. Their eroort of fugar within forty years is grown much greater than it was, though anciently it made almoft the whole of their exportable produce, apd they were without rivals in the trade. It is finer in kind than what any of ours, the French, or SpanlQi fugar plantations fend us.
Theiir
"*/V-V'!.*>- ■ '*"1.""'^W^ '»'A
Settlements /;/ America. 311
Their tobacco too is remarkably good ; and Tthey trade very largely in this commodity to the coaft of Africa, where they not only fell it diredly to the natives, but fupply the fliips of other nations, who iSnd it a neccfTary ar- ticle to enable them to carry on the flave and gold duft trade to advantage. The Northern and Southern parts of Brazil abound in horned cattle ; thrfe are hunted for their hides, of which no le fs than twenty thoufand are fent annually into Europe.
The Portuguefe were a confiderable time poiTefTed of their American empire, before they difcovcred the treafures of gold and dia- snonds, which have £nce made it fo confider- able. After the expulfion of the Dutch, the colony remained without much attention from the court of Portugal j UEtil in 1685, a mi- nifler of great fagacity advifed the then mo* narch to turn his thoughts to fo valuable and confiderable a part of his territories. He re- prefented to him, that the climate in the bay of Ali-Saints, where the capital flood, was of fuch a nature as to deaden the adivity and induflry of the people ; but that the North- ern and Southern extremities of Brazil in a more temperate climate, invited them to the cultivation of the country. The advice was taken. But becaufe it was found that the infolence and tyranny of the native Portu- guefe always excited the hatred of the native
X 4 Brazilians,
lyt
31? An Account of the European
Brazilians, and confequently ohftrud'^d the fettlements, they were refolvcd to people the countries, which were now the objedt of their care, with thofe who are called Meftizes 5 that is, a race fprung from a mixture of Eu- ropeans and Indians, who they judged would behave better ; and who, on account of their connedioa in blood, would be more accept- able to the Brazilians on the borders, who were not yet reduced. To compleat this de- iign, they vefled the government in the hands of priefts, who ad:ed each as governor in his own parifli or diftridi. And they had the prudence to chufe with greit care fuch men as were proper for the work. The confe-^ quence of thefe wife regulations was foon ap- parent ; for without nolfe or force, in fifteen years they not only fettled the fca coaft, but drawing in vaft numbers of the natives, they fpread themfelves above an hundred miles more to the Weftward than the Portugucfe fettlements had ever before extended. They opened feveral mines, which improved the revenues ; the planters were eafy, and feveral of the priefts made no inconfiderable fortunes. t,.iThefame of thefe new mines drew toge- ther a number of defperadoes and adventurers of all nations and colours, who not agreeing with the moderate and fimple manners of the inhabitants of the new fetdements, nor rea- iiily fubmitting to any order or reftraint elfer ,-ri _ . where^
SETTLEMENTS in AMERICA, 313
where, retired into a mountainous part of tho country, but fertile enough, and rich in gold ^ where, by the acceffion of others in their own circumftances, they foon became a for- midable and independent body, and for a long time defended the privileges they had aflumed with great courage and policy. They were called Paulifts, from the town and diftridt called St. Paul, which was their head quar- ters. But as this odd commonwealth grew up in fo unaccountable a manner, fo it pe- rifhed in a manner altogether unknown in this part of the world. It is now heard of no longer. The king of Portugal is in full poffeffion of the whole country ; and the «iines are worked by his fubjedts and their flaves, paying him a fifth. Thefe mines have poured almoft as much gold into Europe as the Spanifh America had of (ilver. t L>» Not many years after the difcovery of the gold mines, Brazil, which for a century had been given up as a place incapable of yielding the metals for which America was chiefly va- lued, was now found to produce diamonds too ; but at firft of fo unpromifing a nature, that the working of the mines was forbidden by the court of Portugal, left without making vanv compenfation by their number, they might depreciate the trade which was carried jon in thofe ftones from Goa. But in fpite of 'jhis prohibition, a number were from time to i\:t^f\ ■'■'■'■ time
i
II
m
3 14 ^^ AccotyNT of the EuRcf ean time fmuggled from Brazil; and forfic too of fuch great weight, and high luftre, and tranfparency, that they yielded very little to the fineft brought from India. The covut now perceived the importance of the trade, .-'nd accordingly refolved to permit it, but un- <ler fuch reflridiions as might be fufHciently l)e;neficial to the crown and fubjedt ; and at the fame time preferve the jewels in that * fcarcity which makes the principal part of their value. In 1740 the diamond mines were farmed at one hundred and thirty-eight thoufand crufadocs, or about twenty-fix thou- fand pounds flerling annually, with a prolu» bition againft employing more than fix hun* died flaves at a time in the works. It is pro^ bablc that this regulation is not very ftrid:ly complied with, the quantity of diamonds is much increased, and their value of courie funk fince that time. It is true, that diamonds of the very firft rank are nearly as dear a$ ever. None of the diamonds of Brazil have fo high a luftre as the firft rate of Golconda ; and they haye generally fomething of a dulky ycllowifli caft ; but they have been found of a prodigious fize. Some years ago we had an account in the news papers of one fent to the king of Portugal, of a fize and weight almoft beyond the bounds of credibility j for it was faid to weigh fixteen hundred carats, fit fix thoufand fcven hundred and twenty Mit grains;
U'm i|iiuKiiiiti »(^.
fiET.-EMENTS in AMERICA.' Jf^
grains; and confequently'muft be worth ft*
|
yeral miliiona. |
» |
|
C H A P. |
IV. |
V-
Jtegulation of the Pcrfuguefi trade. The de^ fcription of St. Salvador, the capital ofBra^ zil. The fleets for that city. Rio Janeiro find Fernambucca.
V ; ■
' i ^HE trade of Portugal is carried on '^'i upon the fame exclufive plan, on which the feveral nations of Europe trade with their colonies of America j and it more particularly refembles the Spanilh method, by lending out not fingle (hips, as the conveni- cncy of the feveral places, and the ideas of the European merchants may direift j but by annual fleets which fail at ftated times from Portugal, and compofe three flotas bound to i^s many porta in Brazil 5 to Fernambucca, in the Northern part j Rio Janeiro, at the Southern extremity j and the bay of All- Saints, in the middle. In this laft is the Ca- pital, which is called St. Salvador, where all the fleets rendezvous on their return to Por- tugal. This city commands a noble, fpacious, and commodious harbour. It is built upon an high and fteep rock, having the fea upon one fide, and a lake forming a crefcent, inr Vefting it almofl: wholly, fo as nearly to join
the
4^'
hi
I 11
3 1 6 An Account of the European
the fea on the other. This (ituation makes it in a manner impregnable by nature j but they have befides added to it very flrong for- tifications. All jthefe make it the ftrongeft place in America. 'It is divided into an up- per and lower town. The lower conlifts only of a ilreet or two, immediately upon the har- bour, for the convenience of lading and un- lading goods, which are drawn up to th^ higher town by machines. The flreets in the upper town are laid out as regularly as the ground will admit, and are handfomely built. They had forty years ago in this city above two thoufand houfes, and inhabitant? proportionable ; a furhptuous cathedral \ feve-r ral magnificent churches ; and many convents, well built and endowed. The Portuguefc fleet fets out from Lifbon in its voyage hithei:, in the month of February. ^ ^ „^^^,^^^ ^^^ I can get no accounts, precife enough to be depended upon^^ of the towns of Fernam* bucca, or Parayba, and the capital of the Rio de Janeiro, to enable me to be particular jabout them. X-et it fjuffice that the fleet for the former of thefe fets out in March ; and for the latter in the month of January 5 but they all rendezvous in the bay of All- Saints, to the number of an hundred fail of large fhips, about the month of May or June, and carry to Europe a cargo little inferior in value to the treafures qf the flota an4 galleons, Th?
Settlements In America]! 317
gold alone amounts to near four millions fter- ling. This is not at all extraded from the mines of Brazil j but as they carry on a large dircdl trade with Africa, they bring, efpecially from their fettlernent at Mozambique, o" the Eaftern fide of that continent, befides their Haves, vaft quantities of gold, ebony, and ivory, which goes into the amount of the cargo of the Brazil fleets for Europe. Thofe parts of Brazil which yield gold, are the middle and Northern parts on the Rio Janeiro and Bay of All-Saints. They coin a great deal of the gold in America j that which is coined at Rio Janeiro bears an R, that which is ftruck at the Bay is marked with a B.
To judge the better of the riches of this Brazil fleet, the diamonds it contains muft not be forgot. For if the mines rentf;d to the crown in the year 1740, at twenty-fix thoufand pounds a year, it will be a very fmall allowance to fay, that at leafi: five time^ more is made out of them ; and that there is returned to Europe in diamonds to at leail the value of one hundred and thirty thoufand pounds. This, with the fugar, which is principally the cargo of the Fernambucca fleet, the tobacco, the hides, the valuable drugs for medicine and manufacftures, may give fome idea of the importance of this trade, not only to Portugal, but to ail the trading powers of Europe. The returns are
not
m
,m
318 jin Account of the European
not the fiftieth part of the produce of Portil» gal. They conlift of the woollen goods of all Kinds of England^ France, and Holland j the linens and laces of Holland, France, and Germany ; the filks of France and Italy 5 lead, tin, iron, copper, and all forts of utcn- fils wrought in thefe metals from England ; as well as falt-fifh, beef, flour, and cheefe. Oil they have from Spain. Wine^ with fome fruits, is nearly all with which they are fup- plied from Portugal. ^^. - - - rir?
Though the profits in this trade are great, very few Portuguefe merchants trade upon their own ftoeks j they are generally credited by the foreign merchants, whofe commodi- ties they vend, efpecially the Englifh. In fhort, though in Portugal, as in Spain, all trade v/ith their plantations is ftridtly inter- dicted to ftrangers j yet, like all regulations that GontradiA the very nature of the objedt they regard, they are here as little attended to as in Spain. The Portuguefe is only the truftee and fa<flor; but his fidelity is equal to that of the Sp<in!(h merchant ; and that has fcarce ever been fhaken by any public or private caufe whatfoever. A thing furprifing in the Portuguefe j and a ftriking in fiance amongft a people fo far from remarkable for their integrity, of what a cuftom origi- nally built upon a few examples, and a con- fequent reputation built upon that, will be
able
VM
Settlements in America. 31^
able to efFedt ia fucceffion of men of very dif-, ferent natural charadters and morals. And fo di£Fcrent is the fpirit ci commercial honefty from that of juftice, as it is an independent virtue, and influences the heart.
The Engliih at prefent are the moft intc- rcfted, both in the trade of Portugal for home eonfumption, and of what they want for the ufe of the Brazils. And they deferve to be moft favoured, as well from the fcrvices they have always done that crown, and from the ftipulations of treaties, as fromt the coniidera* tion that no other people confumes fo mucb of the produ(5ts of Portugal. However, partly from out own fapinenefs, partly from the policy and activity of France, and partly from the fault of the Portuguefe themfelves^ the French have become very dangerous ri*- vals to us in this, as in moft other branches of ©ur trade. It is true, that though the French have advanced fo prodigioufly, and that there is a fpirit of induftry and commerce raifed in moft countries in Europe, our exports of ma- nufadlures, or natural produdls, have by no- means leffened within thefe laft forty years ;, which can only be explained by the extending, our own, and the Spanifh and Portuguefe co- lonies, which increafes the general demand. But though it be true, that we have rather ad-^ vanced than declined in our commerce upon the whole, yet we oyght to take great care not
1
'II
i:«4^
to
320 An AccotiNT of the European to be deceived by this appearance. For if vw^ have not likewife advanced in as great a pro- portion to what we were before that period, and to our means finee then, as oar neigh- bours have done in proportion to theirs, as I apprehend we have not, then, I fay, we have comparatively declined ; and fhall never be able to preferve that great fuperiority in cpm* merce, and that diftinguifhed rank of the firft commercial and maritime power in Eu- rope, time muft be efTential to preferve us in any degree, cither of commerce co: power* For if any other power of a more exteniive and populous territory than ours, ihouid come to rival us in trade and wealthy he mufl come of neceffity to give law to us in whatever re- lates either to trade or policy. Notwithftand- ing that, the want of capacity in the mini- ilers of fuch a power, or the indolence of the fovereign, may protradt the evil for a time, it will certainly be felt in the end, and will fhew us demonftratively, though too late, that we muft have a great fuperiority in trade, not only to ourfelves formerly, but to our neighbours at prefcnt, to have any at all which is likely to continue with us for a long time^
^i->^/^.^-^" V CHAP,
Settlements in America.*
321
CHAP. V.
^he character of the American Portuguefe. The Jiate of the negroes. The government.
' I ^ H E pourtrait which the moft judici- ^m^ ous travellers give us of the manners and Cuftoms of the Portuguefe in America, is very far from being favourable to that peo- ple. They are reprefented as a people at once funk in the mofl effeminate luxury, and pradliling the moft defperate crimes. Of a aiflembling hypocritical temper^ of little ho- nefty in dealing, or fincerity in converfation ; lazy, proud, and cruel. They are poor and penurious in thf ir diet, not more through neceifity than inclination. For, like the in- habitants of moft Southern climates, they are much more fond of fliow, ftate, and at- tendance, than of the joys of free fociety, and the fatisfadtions of a. good table. Yet their feafts, feldom made, are fumptuous to extravagance. .-^^iMyirc^ ..^^urfi**uw-r.*.i;o^;i^:,v. ».,■.• >>^-. ' The luxury, indolence, pride, and cruelty of the mafters, has, amongft other caufes, been very juftly attributed to their being bred up amongft flaves, having every bufinefs entirely done by fuch ; and to their being permitted to keep a prodigious number of negroes, not for their field work, nor for ^ Vol. I. Y domcftic
.1 1
■:*
lii
ir
mrrmmmmr
322 j4n Account of the European domeftic employments, but merely to wait upon them, and to form their train. Thefe become more corrupted than their mafters, w.ho make them the inftruments of their crimes ; and giving them an ^unbounded and fcandalous licence, employ them whenever they want to terrify or revenge, as bullies and aiTaffins, And indeed nothing can be conceived more fit to create the w^rft 4ifi)r« ders, than the unnatural junction of flsivery to idlenefs, and a licentious way of living. They arc all fuffered to go arm^ and there are vafl numbers who have tnerhed or bought their freedom ; and diis is filifered in a country where the negroes are tien to one. joi^JD.iii ■.viiJ^JiJfiJ y!i4*uai,;*iii ^Mi-W^.cr^i'-'-^^t
f But this pidlure, perhaps too highly co- loured for thofe whom it is intended to re^ prefcnt, is by no means applicable to all the Portuguefe of Brazil. Thofe by the Rio Janeiro, and in the Northern dstptainflbips, are not near fo effeminate and corrupted as thofe of the Bay of All-Saints, which being in a climate favourable to indolence and de- bauchery, the capital city, and one of the oHeft fetdements, is in all refpeds wbrfe than any of the others. -^»' '*
;; The gevcrnment of Brazil is in the vice- roy, who refides at St. Salvador. He has two councils, one for criminal, the other for civil affiiirs 5 in both which he prefidcs. But,
i?
.' SiiiliitL
^9mH
^tm^mt
VI,
to 4he ii^nite prejudice of the fettlemcnt; aU ,cho4kky) obican^ry, -and muk^Ued ex- pences vincident'to the wofA: part of the lafw; aiKl prai^ifed by the moft corrupted lawyers, fioiu»fli(hiere ; 'it the fame time that juf);ice i^ to laK, ^at the greateft crimes often pals with impunity* FormcFly the judges colild not leigaUy punifli any Portaguefe with death.' And it is not difficult to imagine, how much fuch a licence in fuch a country muft have contributed to a corruption, that it may be the bufineis of fucceffions of good magiftrates, and ages of good difcipline, to reflore to foundne&. Upon the river of Amazons, the people, who are moftly Indians, and reduced by the priefts fent thither, are ftill under the government of thefe paftors. The feveral divifions of this cofintcy are called miflions.
As the PortugU^e have been once difpoA feffed of this country by the Dutch, and once endangered by the French, their mif- fortunes and dangers have .made them wife enough to take very effc6lual mcafures for their future feourity. St. Salvador is a very ftrong fortification j they have others that are not contemptible ; befides a good number of European regular troops, of which there are two regiments in St. Salvador. The militia too is regimented, amongft whom they reckon fome bodies of Indians, and free negroes ; and indeed at prefent Brazil fcems to be in as I r.i X " Y 2 little
• V I i
^^
IPWifF
3^ ^P f-^ Account, Scci : little dabger as the fettlements of any power of America, not only from their own internal ftrength, their remotenefs, and the intolerable heat and unhealthinefs of a great part of the climate, but from the intereft that moft of ^d^^ftates.in Europe who are concerned in that trade,, have to keep it in the hands of the Porttigueie. •• "^"^'^-^frt; ^^ ^%w:^*wu:5ii -: -. •
»:/*>; V
.0:0.
01 s
.A^m^
'JESrar
liliiiii Mimiiiii Mini iii.WMili;j|ff||p|||||||||p
THE
CONTENTS
•Of the Fmrwoitjm''^^''
K- ^«»
> ■. r ..
7%tdycQvery of America^ anctwif^-- duElion of Mexico and Peruy{Z^^
hiff'S,
., .'vv '«!>.? Vi ■;,,-> ■■ ■» v* Xx A lr» !•
rllE flate of Europe before the difcovery ^ America, The projeSi of Columbus, His application to feveral courts. His fuccefsful application to that of Spain, His voyage. . I'he difcovery of the Bahamas^ and Greater Antilles, , *i- -^ .= -. , page 3
i' >r.'
I«">,:,
C It AT. II. ;
77)e difcovery of the Caribbees* Columbus re- turns to Europe. His behaviour at Lijbon* His reception 4U Bareebna by Ferdinand and Ifabella. Second itHyage of Columbus, The condition of the Spaniards in Hifpaniola. The city of Ifabella built ^ and a Spanijh colony fettled, A voyage for better dtfcovering the coaft of Cuba. ^ 14
C H A P. III. i
The difficulties attending the voyage, Jamaica discovered, Columbus returns to Htfpaniola,
Y 3 Tht
-I .h V
?^.
V.,. ■- 'SH,
/
:^
CONTENTS.
:^he Spaniards rebel \A war with the h» l^^ dians of that country, T^hey are conqitered.
\,,^-TheirjfchemJQrJiarniim the Spaniards, 25
,\T t% . ' • . , ■, ' -^
v\
G H A p. IV
\ -V,
Complahits againii Columbus, Aperfon is fenf
io ertqtiire into his conduct. He returns' to
Spmfi, H^ is acquitted. H^ jets out on his
. third voyage. He difcovers the continent oj
, South America, tie faiU to Hifpaniola, 33
"VV\. »
.1 \-
C H A p. V.
; V
Columbus Jinds the Spaniards of tUfpaj^iata in
^, rebellion. His meafures tofupprejfs it, liew
complaints againji htm in Spain, tie is fu^
perfeded in the government^ andfent to Spain
in irons, . , , 40
CHAP. vr. V
I'he difcGveries of Americm Vefputius, and other adventurers. What caufed the Jpirit of dif-
'^^ covery, ,\\- ' ;-v -,,■.'- • Vvv;^ \\: 46
^« yi.r'^^''i.v.
\t.\\
■l\
CHAP. VII. ' ■'^
Columbus again acquitted. Undertakes a fourth ^. voyage, Difcovers the codft of Terra Fir ma \^ And the ifkmus of J^arien, Returns to Hif ^ypaniola. Jlis recopii^jj^^erc, . Purfues his
^/ difcoveries
*t^' %i
v-t..
■^!f.'.^.m
mmm
CONTENTS.
**' difcoveries to the coafi of Terra Ftrma. He •**■« driven to Jamakay and Jhipni' recked on that ijland. His di/irejfes there, The rebel- lion of his men^ which he fuppreffes. He leaves the ijland and returns to Spain, His ^^^reception there. He dies. . Vu.t^ vv,^aa.c:59
^he chdraBer of Columbus. Some refleSfions^ on ' the cbnduSi of the court of Spain. * ' ' 6i
C H A P. IX.
The difcoveries and conquejls of Balboa, Ve- lafqttez fends Cortes on the Mexican expedition. The Jlate of the Mexican empire. Cortes makes an alliance with the Tlafcalans. 66
C H A P. X.
Coi'tes builds La Vera Cruz, He marches to . ^exico. His reception by Montezuma. Cor- tes imprifons Montezuma. That prince s lira- tagem to gain his liberty j the confequencc of it. 7S
C H A P. XL
The attempts of Montezuma to make the Spani- ' ards leave Mexico, The arrival of Narvaez " to take the command from Cortes. Cortes
if 4 leaves
I
CONTENTS.
leaver Mexico, Defeats and takes Narvttez prifoner. The Spaniards in Mexico befieg* ed, Cortes raifes the Jiege. Montezuma is killed, ,: ^ , 84
CHAP. XII.
Guatimozin cbofen emperor by the Mexicans. He bejieges the Spaniards m their quarters. Obliges Cortes to retire out of the city, Dif- treffes him in bis retreat, l^he battle of Otumha. Cortes retreats to Tlafcala. 06
■J-.4 i*
*, '■ I'.
CHAP. XIII.
^!'V: '''. •?>';
Spaniards fent agatnfi Cortes join him. He marches again to Mexico, A confpiracy a- gainjl his life baffled. .^^^ \^ i^v;Vr^ \-it^'
; CHAP. XIV.
I'he ficge of Mexico, Terms of accommodation refufed by the Mexicans, The Spaniards re^ pulfed by ajlratagem of Guatimozin, A ne^ ■ /tratagem of Guatimozin, He is taken. The city furrenders, Guatimozin tortured, Cor-^ tes fuperfeded in his government, ReJleSiions mjh^Spanifh cruelties. " 114
C H A P. XV.
■\. 8
n
The fcheme of Pizarro and Almagro for the conquejl of Peru, Their cbaraBers. The
■^Tf^^pi^j^v . p||>iui|i^^ tm — ■ :w^"
CONTENTS.
JlaU of the empire of Ptru at that time. ne taking of the yncd AtabaUpa, 1 29
CHAP. XVI. ^"^'^
Ti^ murder of theynca, A dijpute between "d^ Pizarro and Almagro. They are reconciled, Almagro's expedition to Chill, The Peru- vlans renew the war^ and befiege Cufco, tAI" magro returns and defeats them, Almagro renews the quarrel with Pizarro y but Is de-^ feated and put to death, - ^ 142
I. i*;
t •
t^.rl^ ^'
... ,w c HA P. xyii.
Thefnal dlfperfion of the Peruvian army, The confplracy agalnfl Pizarro, He Is murdered*
^ . ■^..x.^.^m-C'H A P. xviii. ■ ,: ,\-;: ■
Toung Almagro made governor. Hie new vice- roy Vaca dl Cajlro arrives. Puts to death young Almagro, Puts^ an end to thefaBlons^ and fettles the province. He Is recalled, Gofi" zalo Pizarro ralfes a rebelllony and ufurps the government, Peter de la Gafca made vice- roy. Defeats the troops of Pizarro^ and puts
. blm to death, , . 158
. ^\ I
■ t-'i ; »
VO'
\ -. ,t^^l^ ^
PART
ii
' • V*
, >V T
%■■>.
CONTENTS.
p^ A R t ^^
77)e manners of the Americans.
C H A F. I. ^
* ■■■,«■',.
ihe perfins of the Americans, Their drefs and way of living. Their manner ofconverfing, Their hofpitality. T'beir temper. Their re^
^. ligionandfuperjiitioni. Their medicine, i^y
'A \
C H A P. 11.
The government of' the Amerieansi Their court* . cih. Their orators. Their fea/ls. Their [ manner oj (;idminifiering jufiice, -j ' !r 175
S\-
'-'^ I
CHAP. III.
Their mournings for their dead. The Jeaft of fouls. The American women^ their occupa^ tions. Their marriages and divorces, 182
... V
.,»4f^- ■4.:.^
-«^
Tl>€ Indian manner of preparing for war. The - fmgs and dances. Their taking the field, '^ Their method of difcovering and attacking the ' enemy. Their cruel treatment of their pri- toners of war. : ^^ . j\ - jgg
I'/^S .^.
PART
7^*,
COrNTENTS.
p ART m.
. , Spanijh Atmrican
CHAP. I.
A genial deferiftion of America,
203
., ivS . ^■'
C^ H A P. II.
TJf climate and foil ^f New Spain. Animals. ^ Its vegetable produce.' ao8
CHAP. III.
The gold and Jilver mines. The manner of pu^ '^^rifying thtfe metals. Some thoughts on the r 'generation of metals. Of the quantity of thofe
metals produced in the Spanijh Weft-Indies.
" 213
, CHAP. IV.
Of cochineal and cacao.
223
^tv>:.it. w
CHAP. V.
Th^ trade of Mexico, Some account of that city, The fairs of AcapulcOy and La Vera Cruz, The flota and regifter Jhips, 228
CHAP. VI.
\»
Three forts of people in New Spain, The whites^ Indians^ and negroes ; the charaBers of thofe.
li
\ .
n
■ >, :• *}
CONTENTS.
The clergy^ their cbaraSfers, Ihe civil go* vernment^ in cbaraSier. 238
CHAP. VII. *
1 V
'New Mexico, Its difcovery. Climnte. Pro- dtiBs, Doe Englijh claim to California, 243
CHAP. VIII.
7he climate and foil of Peru, Its produce. The mines i the coca and herb of Paraguay, 245
CHAP. IX.
The wines of Peru, The wool. The lamas and
vicunnasy Jheep of Peru, yefuits bark,
Guinea pepper. The dung oflquiqua, ^ick"
. filver mities. v - 251
"■■•■- ■'^- CHAP. "'JD-'"^- : ■'•
The character of the Peruvi/ins. Their divifons,
' The Indian frfivaL Honours paid to a de^
fcendctnt of the ynca. \ 256
-^ CHAP. XI. „ .,
The cities of PjCTU^ Uma^ CufcOy and ^itoy V a defer iption of them, CallaOy its trade and ,,' dejiru^ion. The viceroy of Peru, PKsju^ rifdiBion, and revenues^\ v^v ^\ <K^iu 260
^y^: -yyC H A P.
f^
•X
CONTENTS. CHAP. XII. -vv
^e temperature of the air in Chili. The foih Its fertility. A defcription of the principal towns. The trade of Chili, ^ >- 268
. t"' '^\^^^■'^\ \\.y':'^ -'x.^''.. V "'"i'-V'/. •;•■"' 'V:\>;,jy
C H A P. XIII. ^^
The Spaniards in this province but few. The •V AmericanSy their cbara^er. Some free. 271
CHAP. XIV.
The climate of Paraguay. Its rivers. The \,v pranince of La Plata. The town of Buenos^ A\Ayres. Its trade. ^ 274
Ao>^i ,^.c . i.-i'"' >,>;»•■.%
. '- - 'v
8 2*^
CHAP. XV.
The territory ofthejefuits in Paraguay. Their
manner of fettling and governing it. The
.: obedience of the people. Some refledlions on
> the late tranfaSlions there. ^\^ v '^ '278
,A^, „
r-. t4;-.» < ._v
.S*;
■•jUA\i<':V>..
CHAP. XVI.
Terra Firma. Its extent and produce. The
cities of Panama^ Carthagena, and Porto-
.- bello. The galleons. ThetfleofCuba. The
Havanna. Hifpaniola. Porto Rico. Re-
- fleSlions on the policy of Spain with regard to
^ the colonies. 288
PART
I
♦
! '1
Jfl fl, \ .
m
m
* M
CONTENTS.
PART IV.
U^e PArtu^ueJe Jkttlemmts.
*,'•«■ .
CHAP. I.
An account of the difcovery of Brazil. The method of fettling it. Conquered by the Dutch. ^conquer^d by the Tortuguefe, ' joo
C H A P. 11.
7he climate of Brazil. Of the Brazil wood,
. ...,•; ^. ,. 306
CHAP. HI.
H^e trade of Brazil. Its intercourfe with Africa. The fettlement of the river Amazons and Rio Janeiro. The geld mines. The commonwealth of the PjiuUJls. 7he diamond
mines. t ''-"^•^- ^•^-^^^•^^^•■i.:- J»*1^V 3C18
C HAP., w. ;
>'^)*t . ,-,»4ie_Si xx^.-^iMLA
■Vl«v-l:
Emulation of the Portuguefe trade. The de^ fcription of St. Salvador, the capital of Bra- zil. The fleets for that city. * Rio faneiro Mnd Fernamhucca. . ,... ^^ J15
,iw
CHAP. V. :, >
The character of the American Port uguefi. The ft ate of the negroes. ^Ihe, government. 321
JE,nd of the First Volume.
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