Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/232

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neither can they trauel from Cartagena to this kingdome by land, because of the mountaines and standing waters, which lie in the way, so that they are faine to carry their goods vp a riuer called the great riuer of Magdalen.

They can goe with their barkes but two hundred leagues vp this riuer;

for although it be large and very deepe, yet there runneth so swift a current, that the barkes are constrained to discharge their goods at a place in the riuer called Branco de Malambo, into small canoas which rowe close by the shores side. In this riuer are great abundance of Crocodiles, so huge and terrible to behold, that such as neuer sawe them before are very fearefull at the first sight of them, for if a man chance to put his hand or foote into the water, they will streight-*way catch at them. In some places this riuer is very vnhealthfull, and full of noysome wormes;

but the first place thereupon which the Spaniards doe inhabite called Mompox is exceedingly healthfull. The countrey adioyning vpon this riuer they call The new kingdome of Granada, because the captaine called Cesada which first conquered the same, and inhabited there, was borne at Granada in Spaine: for it is the vse of the Spanish captaines, when they haue conquered any Prouince of the Indies, to call it after the name of the place where they themselues were borne. This new kingdome of Granada is very fruitfull, and bringeth forth much corne and other victuals, and hath many gold-mines, and great quantitie of emeralds, whereof they send so many into Spaine, that now they are become little worth: but before these countreys were found, they were in great estimation. Here are also dwelling many of the Indian people so meeke and gentle of nature, that they are called flies. This land is very plaine and holesome, and the inhabitants are giuen to peace.

From this kingdome they trauell to another countrey called La gouernacion de Popayan; it is rich of golde, and withall very fruitfull, but fuller of mountaines then the new kingdom of Granada, and hath fewer Indians dwelling in it, but those that are there are full of courage and very valiant, which caused the Spaniardes to make great warre before they could ouercome them. In this prouince there are 13 townes of Spaniards, and in The new kingdome of Granada there are nine townes of Spaniards.